HEROES Act voted on in the House, awaits Senate

Congressman Bobby L. Rush, along with other Midwestern United State Representatives, talked about the importance of passing the HEROES Act. Photo courtesy of Congressman Bobby L. Rush
Congressman Bobby L. Rush, along with other Midwestern United State Representatives, talked about the importance of passing the HEROES Act. Photo courtesy of Congressman Bobby L. Rush

HEROES Act voted on in the House, awaits Senate

On May 15, the United States House of Representatives voted in favor of a bill, introduced by House Democrats that would provide one trillion dollars in funding to state and local governments.

The bill H.R 6800, called the HEROES Act, was lauded by Democrats and was the fifth relief package for Americans in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Previous legislation included the Payment Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, Families First Coronavirus Response Act and Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act.

The HEROES Act would include a $200 billion Heroes’ Fund for essential workers, $75 billion for testing, tracing and treatment, extend the $600 weekly federal unemployment payments through next January, as well as protect people losing their employer-provided health insurance with COBRA subsidies and create a special enrollment period in the Affordable Care Act exchanges for uninsured Americans.

In a call with reporters, U.S. Congressman Bobby L. Rush, D. Dist 1, along with Congressman Mike Quigley, D. Dist. 5, spoke about the importance of the bill and how it would benefit residents in his community.

“As Chairman of the Energy Subcommittee, I am also proud to see that this bill provides relief to ensure that millions of American[s] are able to keep their water running and their lights on during this pandemic, including $1.5 billion in additional funding to LIHEAP, the largest energy assistance program in the country,” he said.

Other provisions in the HEROES Act include contact tracing, something Rush said is necessary in stopping the spread of COVID-19 in black and brown communities, which have been hardest hit by the virus.

“I am admittedly concerned that the provisions included in the HEROES Act – specifically, the contract tracing provisions – do not go far enough to protect African Americans and other communities that are being most impacted by the virus. However, I remain committed to working with leadership to strengthen these policies, which are fundamental to safely reopening the economy,” he said.

On May 1, Rush introduced H.R. 6666, the COVID-19 Testing, Reaching and Contacting Everyone (TRACE) Act. This bill would establish a grant program run by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to mobilize testing and contact tracing efforts. Intended grantees would include Community Health Centers, School Based Health Centers, academic medical centers, non-profits, as well as other entities who would hire and train individuals to operate mobile testing units, as well as do outreach in hot spots and medically underserved areas.

Quigley said he supported the HEROES Act because it provides the assistance workers and families are currently in need of.

“We know that essential workers can’t afford to wait for support and families can’t afford to wait to put food on their tables. While Republicans say they feel no urgency, House Democrats have presented an ambitious path forward in our fight against coronavirus and are providing a lifeline to impacted families and individuals,” he said. “I’m proud of how members of my community have stepped up to support each other and do their part to stop the spread. Passing the Heroes Act would show the American people that Congress is doing our part, too.”

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