Today, House Democrats introduced The Heroes Act, the latest COVID-19 relief package worth more than $3 trillion. The House Rules Committee is scheduled to consider the bill on Thursday, with a full House vote expected on Friday.
According to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), the Senate is not expected to take up their version of a bill for two or three weeks because they want to see if the previous aid packages are working.
Among its many provisions, The Heroes Act would provide the following:
- $1 TRILLION: For state, local, territorial and tribal governments to pay vital workers like first responders, health workers, and teachers
- $200 BILLION: To ensure that essential workers receive hazard pay
- ADDITIONAL DIRECT PAYMENTS: Payments of $1,200 per family member, up to $6,000 per household
- EMPLOYEE RETENTION TAX CREDIT: Enhances the new employee retention tax credit that encourages employers to keep employees on payroll
- INFECTION CONTROL PLANS: Requires OSHA to issue a strong, enforceable standard within seven days to require all workplaces to develop and implement infection control plans
- SMALL BUSINESS LOANS: Strengthens the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program
- SNAP: Provides 15% increase to the maximum SNAP benefit and additional funding for nutrition programs
- $10 BILLION for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)
- $3 BILLION for school meal providers and USDA’s Child and Adult Care Food Program
- $1.1 BILLION for WIC (Women Infants and Children)
- $150 MILLION for TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program) to help local food banks
Click here to access the text of The Heroes Act (H.R. 6800).
Click here to access a one pager on the legislation.
Click here to access a section-by-section summary.
Be on the lookout for a more detailed analysis of the provisions most relevant to WG members and the fresh produce industry.