Dear Friend,

I’m writing to you to report on some of the main points of the coronavirus relief legislation. As we battle a global pandemic, this coronavirus has personally impacted so many of us, and I know that this year has been unusually difficult.

While our country has experienced the difficulty of this pandemic, our own state has also been struggling. In California, COVID-19 has had a significant impact on our communities, but I am confident that despite the hardships we can conquer our most daunting obstacles. Finalizing this agreement has taken far too long and our Government can and must do better.

Throughout the pandemic, I have been in Washington, DC fighting each and every day to advocate for and secure the best possible response to the pandemic. Providing relief to struggling families has been the top priority for me all year long. As 2020 comes to a close, I am pleased that Congress has passed the critical Omnibus and Coronavirus Relief bill to deliver urgently needed aid to the American people.

This communication does not cover the entire legislation, but I would like to bring your attention to some of the specific provisions I secured:

• Rental assistance: With over 20 million renters at risk of eviction by the end of the year, I secured $25 billion in critically needed rental assistance for families struggling to stay in their homes. I also secured a critical one-month extension of the eviction moratorium.

• Direct payment checks: I insisted that direct payments be included and after negotiations, Democrats were able to secure a new round of payments worth up to $600 for each adult and dependent. The direct payments will begin being disbursed as soon as next week.

• Enhanced unemployment insurance benefits: With unemployment insurance benefits set to expire, I called for the stimulus to include an extension of unemployment benefits. Democrats added a $300 per week unemployment insurance enhancement for Americans out of work. This benefit will last for up to four months.

• Strong support for small business: I fought for critical funding and policy changes to help small businesses, including minority-owned businesses and nonprofits recover from the pandemic. The agreement includes $320 billion in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds and Economic Injury Disaster loan program grants. This bill also allows restaurants to access PPP funding and expand the amount of PPP loans for which they are eligible for by a considerable amount. 

• Community Development Financial Institutions and Minority Depository Institutions: I secured $12 billion in investment for minority banks (MDIs), credit unions, and community banks that are certified as Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and MDIs. These institutions focus on providing grants and financial assistance to disadvantaged and minority communities. Earlier this year, CDFIs and MDIs played a critical role in providing PPP loans to small and minority-owned businesses in communities of color. For example, CDFIs and MDIs provided more than $16.4 billion in Paycheck Protection Program loans to over 221,000 small businesses. The 99 CDFIs and MDIs in California will greatly benefit from this provision.

I also fought for the following critically needed provisions:

• Education and child care: The agreement provides $82 billion in funding for colleges and schools, and $10 billion for child care assistance.

• Accelerating vaccine distribution and crushing the coronavirus: $8.75 billion in urgently need funds to accelerate the free and equitable distribution of safe vaccines to as many Americans as possible as soon as possible, to implement a strong national testing and tracing strategy with billions reserved specifically for combating the disparities facing communities of color.

• State and Local Transportation Departments: $10 billion to support state departments of transportation for maintenance, operations, and staff costs.

As we approach the new Congress, it is clear to me that we must work with the incoming Biden Administration to put forward bold policies and plans that support the American people, stabilize the economy, keep people housed, and crush the coronavirus. While there is still unfinished business, I want you to know that I will be fighting for additional resources to help our communities and lift us out of this crisis in the coming months.

Until then, rest assured that we will be in touch and that I will keep fighting for you.

Warmest regards,

Congresswoman Maxine Waters
Chairwoman of the House Committee on Financial Services