Flint Township View

Kildee to give update, answer questions on the Coronavirus aid package


FLINT—Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05), Chief Deputy Whip of the House Democratic Caucus, will hold a telephone townhall on Tuesday (March 31), at 5:30 p.m. to discuss the latest information regarding the coronavirus pandemic.

On the call, Kildee will be joined by health experts, including the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), to answer questions from Michigan residents.

All Michigan residents are invited to join the call. To participate, please call 855-756-7520 Ext.58045#. It is free to participate.

On FMarch 27, Congressman Kildee voted in support of H.R. 748, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) Act. This legislation provides immediate economic relief to workers, small businesses, frontline hospitals and health care workers. The CARES Act will:

The bill will provide $1,200 in direct payments to taxpayers with incomes up to $75,000 per year, before starting to phase out and ending altogether for those earning more than $99,000. Parents would receive an additional $500 per child. Seniors, including those on Social Security, as well as non-tax filers and those on SSDI and SSI will also be eligible for this assistance.

The bill will extend unemployment insurance eligibility by 13 weeks and include a four-month, $600 increase in benefits. House Democrats successfully fought to expand unemployment insurance benefits for self-employed, contractors and “gig” economy workers.

The bill provides $200 billion to support hospitals and frontline health care workers. Also, Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Centers will be able to bill directly for telehealth services during the coronavirus crisis.

Small businesses will receive additional help, in the form of $350 billion in emergency loans and grants. The bill provides federally guaranteed support, through community banks, to small businesses, including loans that can be forgiven if businesses keep workers on the payroll, instead of laying workers off.

Larger companies can apply for loans through the Federal Reserve, including the airline industry. House Democrats successfully negotiated that any large company that receives loans through the federal government will have to take additional steps to keep their workers on the payroll, limit executive bonuses and ban stock buybacks. – G.G.