Friends —

This week, the Senate passed a third package of coronavirus relief funding. We know there was a lot of back and forth on this package, so we want to outline exactly what was included. Mark was personally involved in negotiations and fought hard alongside his Democratic Senate colleagues for a bipartisan relief bill that addresses this public health crisis, puts our workers first, and delivers for the people of Virginia. This wasn’t about partisan politics — it was about strong protections for our workforce and first responders and about putting together a robust plan to bolster our health care response to this pandemic.

This bill provided more than $2 trillion in funding to combat the coronavirus. Here’s what the bill included:

• Direct payments to working Americans, which are doubled in the latest version of the bill. This breaks down into a $1,200 payment for most Americans, and an additional $500 for children.


• An unprecedented investment in our health care system, toward personal and protective equipment for health care workers, testing supplies and support for emergency centers. The bill also increases Medicare payments to hospitals and providers and invests in medical research into COVID-19.


• A major expansion of unemployment insurance, creating a long-term lifeline for workers struggling during this outbreak. This includes full paycheck replacement for many workers and an extension of benefits. Mark also personally fought to expand access to unemployment benefits for part-time, self-employed, and gig economy workers.


• A rescue plan for small businesses, including loan forgiveness grants for small businesses and non-profits and emergency grant funding to provide immediate relief to small businesses. The bill also includes two programs Mark personally fought for to keep workers on the payroll at small and mid-sized businesses.


• Emergency appropriations, including support for federal, state, and local public health agencies, FEMA Disaster Relief funding, funding for our transit systems, and grants to support local school systems so they can continue to educate our students. The bill also includes nearly $16 billion to ensure no one who loses their job goes hungry during the pandemic.


• Student loan relief through a tax incentive Mark authored encouraging employers to create student loan repayment programs.


• A fund to support states, tribes, and local governments pay for new expenses related to the coronavirus outbreak.


• Protections against foreclosures and evictions for Americans who are struggling to make ends meet.


• Built-in transparency and accountability, including real-time reporting of Treasury actions under this legislation, and prohibition on businesses controlled by members of the Trump administration or Members of Congress from getting loans or investments from Treasury programs.

While not a perfect bill, this legislation will immediately begin helping workers, small businesses and healthcare providers who need it most. As our country continues to grapple with this crisis, Mark will keep fighting to get the best deal for Virginians and all Americans during this outbreak.

Thank you for your support.

— Team Warner