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LaMalfa Supports Omnibus and Fourth COVID-19 Spending Package

December 21, 2020

(Washington, DC) – Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) issued the following statement after voting in favor of H.R. 133, the Bipartisan-Bicameral Omnibus & COVID-19 Relief Package. The Omnibus spends $1.4 trillion to fund the federal government through the end of FY21. The COVID-19 relief package spends approximately $900 billion, with $325 billion in new aid, $429 billion in repurposed CARES Act funding, and $140 billion in reauthorized Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds.

LaMalfa said: "Less than three months ago, a $1.8 trillion COVID-19 relief package was nearly agreed to, but in order to deny a win for President Trump before the election, Democrats obstructed bipartisan negotiations. By combining this legislation with $560 billion in previously authorized CARES Act funding, this bill is able to contain new spending to $325 billion, without sacrificing significant financial relief to healthcare workers, small businesses, low and middle-income Americans, and schools."

"I'd specifically like to commend President Trump for his commitment to hard-working Americans who were displaced from their jobs because of COVID-19. When the initial $600 per week of unemployment insurance expired, he directed FEMA to provide a $300 per week supplement to make up for Congressional dithering. Tonight's package continues the President's initiative."

"The final portion of this bill also includes an end to surprise medical billing, something many Americans are unfortunately familiar with. This bipartisan compromise could have been accomplished at any point during this year, rather than stuffing it into a year-end spending package. Instead, House Democrats spent the last two years passing their hyper-partisan bills that never became law. America deserves better, a majority that actually works to find common ground on issues Americans care about the most."
Provisions in the fourth COVID-19 spending package include:

  • A $600 non-taxable Economic Impact Payment (EIP) to Americans who make less than $75,000 per year.
    • Married couples are eligible for an EIP with a gross adjusted income capped at $150,000. Families can receive an additional $600 per child.
  • An additional $280 billion to reopen and strengthen the Paycheck and Protection Programs
    • Businesses under 300 employees and have had a 25% reduction in revenue are eligible for a second round of loans
    • Increases the PPP loan amount for restaurants and hotels from 2.5x payroll to 3.5x, providing an extra month's worth of payroll support
  • Nearly $20 billion for vaccine production
  • Over $2 billion to expand rural broadband
  • $13 billion to support the agriculture sector under the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP)
  • Improved healthcare for rural and underserved communities

Provisions in the FY21 Omnibus include:

  • $1.4 billion for Department of the Interior and U.S. Forest Service for wildfire suppression
    • Congressman LaMalfa helped secure an additional $25 million for hazardous fuel reduction projects
  • An estimated $1.5 billion to cover previous commitments made in the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program (WHIP) to support eligible farmers and ranchers around the country who suffered financial losses as a result of natural disasters that occurred in calendar years 2018 and 2019.
  • $3.9 billion for rural development programs, as well as more than $38.1 billion in loans for rural housing, rural utilities, and rural businesses
  • Allows the Trump Administration to reallocate $929 million from the failed High Speed Rail Project
  • An additional $1.375 billion in border wall funding
  • A 3% pay raise for military personnel
  • The largest pro-life victory in a generation by maintaining the Trump Administration's Title X Family Planning regulations, which have resulted in abortion providers - such as Planned Parenthood - leaving the federal program.