Yesterday, Rep. Tom Reed returned to Washington to pass the “Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act,” which importantly authorized an additional $320 billion dollars for the Paycheck Protection Program to help workers and small businesses during this crisis.
In addition to getting critical relief back to small businesses, the phase “3.5” coronavirus relief package included a number of other key provisions:
- $60 billion for the replenishment of the economic injury disaster loan program that will critically help farmers and agricultural operations in the district.
- $75 billion in aid to hospitals on the front-lines of the fight against COVID-19.
- $25 billion to enhance the country’s testing capacity by supporting the research, development, and manufacturing of tests
In a letter circulated on April 2nd, Tom raised the issue of farmers being ineligible for economic injury loans despite congressional guidance on the issue and the incredible challenges facing agricultural businesses across the country.