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Newhouse Votes to Support Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act

April 23, 2020

WASHINGTON, D.C.Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) released the following statement after voting to support the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act:

"The Paycheck Protection Program creates a bridge for small businesses and workers in Central Washington to get through this pandemic. This additional funding is absolutely critical to ensure the program can continue to help these businesses provide paychecks for their employees and keep the lights on. The funding included in this legislation for hospitals, clinics, and community health centers will go a long way to ensure we can expand our testing efforts and keep patients safe throughout Central Washington.

However, I believe we must focus squarely on our national debt and use this time to chart a path forward on getting our fiscal house in order. In Congress, we should be more committed than ever to addressing our national debt so our nation is prepared for future disasters. Part of doing so includes strengthening this bridge for job creators and employees while also beginning to plan how we are going to jump-start our economy following the pandemic. Millions of people have lost their livelihoods due to no fault of their own, and they deserve a pathway forward."

Background:

The Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act provides critical funding to replenish the Paycheck Protection Program, provides funding for hospitals and health care providers, and expands testing for COVID-19. Details are below:

  • Provides an additional $310 billion in PPP loans:
    • $30 billion in guaranteed loans for lenders with less than $10 billion in assets.
    • $30 billion in guaranteed loans for lenders with $10 billion to $50 billion in assets.
  • Provides an additional $10 billion for Emergency Economic Injury Disaster (EIDL) grants.
  • Appropriates an additional $50 billion for the Disaster Loans Program Account.
  • Allows agricultural enterprises as defined by section 18(b) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 647(b)) with not more than 500 employees to receive EIDL grants and loans.
  • Provides an additional $75 billion for reimbursement to hospitals and healthcare providers to support the need for COVID-19 related expenses and lost revenue.
  • Provides $25 billion for necessary expenses to research, develop, validate, manufacture, purchase, administer, and expand capacity for COVID-19 tests, specifically:
    • $11 billion for states, localities, territories, and tribes to develop, purchase, administer, process, and analyze COVID-19 tests, scale-up laboratory capacity, trace contacts, and support employer testing. Funds are also made available to employers for testing.
    • $1 billion provided to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for surveillance, epidemiology, laboratory capacity expansion, contact tracing, public health data surveillance and analytics infrastructure modernization.
    • $1.8 billion provided to the National Institutes of Health to develop, validate, improve, and implement testing and associated technologies; to accelerate research, development, and implementation of point-of-care and other rapid testing; and for partnerships with governmental and non-governmental entities to research, develop, and implement the activities.
    • $1 billion for the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority for advanced research, development, manufacturing, production, and purchase of diagnostic, serologic, or other COVID-19 tests or related supplies.
    • $22 million for the Food and Drug Administration to support activities associated with diagnostic, serological, antigen, and other tests, and related administrative activities.
    • $825 million for Community Health Centers and rural health clinics.
    • Up to $1 billion may be used to cover costs of testing for the uninsured.