WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Darin LaHood (R-IL) today voted in support of the COVID—19 relief package that will replenish the Paycheck Protection Program, increase funding for hospitals, and bolster states’ capacity to test. The package, which passed the Senate on Tuesday, now heads to President Trump’s desk for his signature.
"COVID—19 is putting an incredible strain on our communities in central and west-central Illinois. Through no fault of their own, many small businesses in Illinois’ 18th District had to close their doors; losing their livelihood and their workers. The Paycheck Protection Program, enacted in the CARES Act, provided a lifeline to workers and businesses in need, and it’s essential that Congress continue providing this relief to everyday Americans.
“After a week of delay by Congressional Democrats, which caused the Paycheck Protection Program to run dry, I am pleased that Congress came together to pass this package. While I have serious concerns about the amount of deficit spending, I am worried that the continued delay of this support will make a difficult situation worse.
“In addition to bolstering workers’ paychecks, this legislation will provide needed funding for hospitals and frontline workers fighting this virus and expand states’ capacity to conducting testing. COVID—19 has presented our country with a challenge unlike any we have seen in our lifetimes. With American resilience and thanks to the nurses, doctors, health care workers, truck drivers, farmers, and grocery store workers among us, we will overcome this. This package takes a necessary step to provide relief for those workers and our communities in central and west-central Illinois.”
