PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF SENATE AMENDMENT TO H.R. 133, UNITED STATES-MEXICO ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP ACT; PROVIDING FOR DISPOSITION OF SENATE AMENDMENT TO H.R. 1520, PURPLE BOOK CONTINUITY ACT OF...
Kwanza Hall (Democrat, GA) \u2014 2020-12-21

. Madam , I rise today during a critical time in the history of the nation. prgtoken Since the beginning of the pandemic, 315,000 Americans have died, as a result of the Administration's mismanagement of the federal response to COVID-19. prgtoken It has especially impacted the African American community and other communities of color. prgtoken Millions of jobs have been lost, countless small businesses have closed, and many others hospitalized. prgtoken For the sake of controlling the virus we have all quarantined, as we eagerly await a vaccine. prgtoken It is against this backdrop that we fashion a relief bill. prgtoken Scripture teaches that which you do for the least of these you do for Him. prgtoken I am proud to fight for the least of these during these critical times and support this bipartisan solution for COVID and the budget. prgtoken I want to commend all leaders who helped make this deal possible, especially Nancy Pelosi, Leader Steny Hoyer and ic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries. prgtoken This bill is critical as it helps all those impacted by COVID, especially the black people and other communities of color that have been disproportionately impacted by this pandemic. prgtoken I am proud to support this bill, which provides $900 billion for COVID relief. prgtoken This is important as the agreement outlined provides another round of $600 in economic stimulus checks and another $300 per-week in unemployment benefits, and it supports small businesses, which are the engines of our economy. prgtoken It also provides funds to support local school districts and provides much-needed funds for coronavirus testing and vaccine distribution. prgtoken I am also proud to help secure this legislation because it supports paid sick leave, provides 25 billion in rent relief and an extension of the eviction moratorium. prgtoken This relief bill is going in the right direction but make no mistake, this is not enough and must only be a down-payment. prgtoken The $1,200 stimulus checks in the CARES Act from earlier this year was an important factor in controlling the economic fallout from the initial onset of the coronavirus, and I am disappointed that tonight that this Congress will not now act as we did in the Spring. prgtoken The situation is more dire now and calls for more--not less--economic stimulus. prgtoken And, I am especially proud that the disbursements from this relief bill starts on the first day of Kwanzaa, December 26. prgtoken And, critically, this legislation supports Community Development Financial Institutions and Minority Depository Institutions by as much as $12 billion: prgtoken The agreement includes dedicated PPP set-asides for very small businesses and lending through community-based lenders like Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs); $9 billion in emergency U.S. Treasury capital investments in CDFIs and MDIs to support lending in low-income and