Coronavirus Update - Securing $1 Billion Relief Package for MT Workers, Families, Small Businesses, Healthcare Professionals, Hospitals, Tribes

Coronavirus Update - Senate Passes $1 Billion Relief Package for MT Workers, Families, Small Businesses, Healthcare Professionals, Hospitals, Tribes

To watch the my full remarks, click HERE.

It’s good to see the United States Senate pass a major Coronavirus Economic Recovery package, with a strong bipartisan vote.

What this is about is getting help to Montanans who are suffering, both for their health and their pocketbooks, due to the Coronavirus outbreak.

I’ve been working hard to make sure the voice of Montanans were heard during negotiations for this important package.

This package will provide Montana workers, small business, hospitals, and state and local governments more than a billion dollars in emergency relief to handle the Coronavirus outbreak.

The aid package puts Montana workers first, expands unemployment insurance, helps Montana small businesses keep and stay open, supports healthcare workers and hospitals on the front lines fighting the virus, prioritizes rural health, accelerates the development and manufacturing of drugs to treat and prevent the virus, stabilizes the economy and more.

Below are some of the critical provisions and funding I helped secure:

$150 billion for local and state governments - at least $1.25 billion will go to MT to help our local and state governments recover from economic losses due to Coronavirus. (45% must go to local governments)
- $8 Billion specific for Indian Country
$16 billion to procure personal protective equipment and other medical supplies for federal and state response efforts.
$100 billion for hospitals and healthcare providers to ensure they receive the support they need for COVID-19 related expenses and lost revenue.
$11 billion for drug development to treat and prevent Coronavirus – this could save millions of lives and the economy. This is critical to help prevent the next pandemic.
$350 billion for small business loans, including grants that will be forgiven if employees are retained
Six month deferral on Small Business loans
$250 billion for unemployment insurance – this is to give relief to workers who lost their jobs because of this pandemic.
Employers would be able to delay the payment of their 2020 payroll taxes until 2021 and 2022, leading to approximately $300 billion of extra cash flow for businesses.
$23.5 billion for farmers and ranchers, including $9.5 billion for a new program to provide relief for livestock producers and other commodities.
For low and middle income individuals, $1,200 tax rebate ($2,400 couples)... plus $500 dollar per child. Eligibility capped at $75,000 for individuals, $112,500 for head of household, $150,000 for a joint return with a limited phase-out above those thresholds.
Cost of drug will be waived when available and helps ensures access

For more of a breakdown of funding provisions on specific issues, click HERE.

We are strong. We’re in this together. We will get through this.

For more updates follow me on Facebook! You can also visit my website daines.senate.gov and call any of my offices below for more information during the virus.

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Best Wishes,

Steve Daines
United States Senate