(Washington, DC) – Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) voted in support of the bipartisan Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act.  The legislation will provide $310 billion in additional funding for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), $75 billion in resources for hospitals, health systems, and frontline workers, and $25 billion for testing.  The legislation passed the House of Representatives, 388-5.

“Our community has worked in so many ways to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, including shuttering many small businesses to allow us to stay home and minimize the spread.  Congress devised the Paycheck Protection Program to help them through these times, but I have heard from too many small businesses across my district who were not able to access this funding before it ran out last week,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher.  “I am glad to vote to appropriate additional funds for this program, for our hospitals, and for testing through the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act. 

“Our work is not done.  We must continue our efforts to address the many real and evolving challenges this pandemic presents.  We must make sure we have additional funding for our firefighters, police, and first responders who are paid by our cities and states, which are reeling from the loss of revenue and increased expense.  We must continue working to find smart solutions and chart our path forward.  The American people are looking to us to work together to solve these problems, and I will continue to do so, advocating for the many resources our community needs as we face this challenge together.”

The Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act includes $310 billion in additional funding for the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) PPP, with $30 billion for Community Development Financial Institutions, community-based lenders, small banks, and small credit unions, and $30 billion for mid-sized banks and credit unions.  It also includes $50 billion for SBA emergency disaster loans and $10 billion for SBA emergency disaster grants.

Additionally, it provides $75 billion in resources for hospitals, health systems, and frontline workers and $25 billion for testing pursuant to a strategic testing plan.  The bill requires the Administration to issue reports on COVID-19 testing, cases, hospitalizations, and deaths