Soto Votes to Pass Historic Coronavirus Legislation

Today, Rep. Darren Soto (FL-09) voted to pass the historic Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which will now go to the President's desk for a signature.

Rep. Soto gave the following remarks on the House floor:

"Mr. Speaker, as I rise here today, the United States has more coronavirus cases than any nation on the planet. This is an unprecedented crisis that requires an unprecedented response. This bipartisan bill is a promise that help is on the way.

Help is on the way for families with $1200 checks and $2,400 for married families. Help is on the way for food assistance.

And for unemployment, help is on the way with $600 in unemployment benefits on top of state benefits.

Help is on the way for our seniors and our veterans with financial assistance.

Help is on the way with small businesses through payroll grants and other costs.

To first responders and hospitals, help is on the way to confront this crisis.

To our farmers and to our students, help is on the way.

It's time to pass this bipartisan bill and send a message to Central Florida and every American across every corner of this nation that there is help because help and hope are on the way."

For a video of his remarks, click here.

The CARES Act includes the following initiatives that will benefit the residents of Central Florida:

• A $150 Billion State and Local Coronavirus Relief Fund: Creates a $150 billion State and Local Coronavirus Relief Fund to provide states and localities additional resources to cope with the coronavirus pandemic. It is estimated that the state of Florida will receive approximately $8,328 billion in desperately needed funds to benefit our state's residents.
• $260 Billion in Dramatically Expanded Unemployment Benefits: Includes numerous provisions to improve unemployment benefits including providing an additional $600 per week for the next four months, providing an additional 13 weeks of federally funded benefits, and expanding eligibility to include workers in the gig economy and self-employed workers.
• Immediate Direct Cash Payments to Lower and Middle-Income Americans: Provides for immediate, direct cash payments to lower-and middle-income Americans of $1,200 for each adult and $500 for each child, beginning to phase out at an annual income of $75,000 for an individual and $150,000 for a household. These payments will provide individuals with the cash they need right now to survive with much of the economy currently shut down.
• More Than $375 Billion in Small Business Relief: Provides more than $375 billion in small business relief, including $349 billion for forgivable loans to small businesses to pay their employees and keep them on the payroll; $17 billion for debt relief for current and new SBA borrowers; and $10 billion in immediate disaster grants.
• Approximately $200 Billion for Our Hospitals, Health Care Workers, and Health Research: Provides an investment of about $200 billion in our hospitals, health systems, and health research, including expanding funding for the personal protective equipment desperately needed by our health care workers, including ventilators, masks, gowns, gloves, etc.
• More Than $100 Billion in Additional Emergency Appropriations, Including the Following:
  • Transit Agencies: Provides $25 billion to transit agencies, which have all seen a drastic drop in revenues as social distancing has been implemented. This funding is to be used to protect the jobs of the employees of the transit agencies, funding their paychecks during this public health emergency. The state of Florida will receive $968,627,399 under this program.
  • HUD Emergency Solution Grants: Provides $2 billion for HUD Emergency Solution Grants to states that will be distributed by formula. These grants are designed to address the impact of the coronavirus among individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, and to support additional homeless assistance, prevention, and eviction prevention assistance. Of this $2 billion, our state will receive $90,762,131. In addition, the bill provides an additional $2 billion for these grants that will be allocated by HUD to the most hard-pressed areas.
  • Child Care and Development Block Grant: Supports child care and early education by providing $3.5 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant. Florida will receive $221,956,829 under this emergency appropriation.
  • Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): Provides $900 million to help low-income families pay their heating and cooling bills. Florida will receive $53,657,000 for this purpose during this public health emergency.
  • Byrne-Justice Assistance Grant Program: Provides $850 million for this program, giving additional support to state and local law enforcement agencies, thereby allowing them, for example, to obtain the personal protective equipment and other medical items they may need during this public health emergency. Florida will receive $51,649,535 under this appropriation.
  • CDC Coronavirus State, Local and Tribal Grants Minimum Awards: Provides about $750 million in CDC State, Local, and . Tribal Grants Minimum Awards to help agencies cope with the public health emergency. The minimum award for Florida is $30,329,000. In addition, states can apply for additional funds above their minimum award, based on their needs.
  • Election Assistance: Provides $400 million for Election Assistance Grants for states to help prepare for the 2020 elections. Coronavirus is already resulting in the postponement of some primaries and this funding can help states make voting safer for individuals. Funding can be used, for example, to increase the ability to vote by mail, expand early voting, and expand online registration. Florida will receive $20,152,160 for these purposes.