WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster (NH-02) released the following statement on House passage of bipartisan coronavirus relief legislation and FY21 Appropriations legislation that would extend funding through the next fiscal year.

“I am pleased that the House and Senate have come to an agreement to pass much-needed COVID-19 relief and fund the government, preventing a shut down,” said Rep. Kuster. “This legislation was long overdue, and though it does not include everything we have been fighting for over the past months, the bipartisan legislation passed today will provide much-needed support for our health care systems, vaccine distribution capacity, increased funding for small businesses and will extend unemployment benefits for Granite Staters who are out of work. Additionally, I am pleased that lawmakers on both sides of the aisle included key New Hampshire priorities that I advocated for, including bolstered funding for job-creating projects through the Northern Border Regional Commission, additional help for small farms as well as families struggling with food insecurity, and new housing support for low-income families and survivors of sexual violence.”

Rep. Kuster continued, “While this package will bring help to those who need it most, we must remember that it is not a fix-all solution. There’s still much more work to be done to support Granite Staters through the health and economic crisis caused by this pandemic. Far too many have lost their jobs, are struggling to get by, cannot find quality, affordable child care, or cannot return to work because of concerns for their health. Congress must continue working to ensure no one is left behind as we work to end this pandemic and move forward, and I will continue to urge my colleagues to advance legislation that addresses budget shortfalls at the town and county level. With vaccines being distributed in New Hampshire and across the country, this legislation is another ray of hope that soon we will put COVID-19 behind us.”

Kuster has been a strong advocate for additional support from the federal government as the country continues to combat the coronavirus pandemic. An original co-sponsor of H.R.748, the CARES Act, which responded to the COVID-19 outbreak and its impact on the economy, public health, state and local governments, individuals, and businesses, Kuster also supported H.R. 6800, the HEROES Act in May, and advocated for an updated version of the legislation in October. Earlier this month, Rep. Kuster spoke on the House floor urging Congress to pass immediate COVID-19 relief legislation.

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COVID-19 Relief Legislation Includes:

$600 Stimulus Checks:

Offers a lifeline to struggling families by making $600 direct payment to parents and their children. Individuals earning less than $75,000 annually would receive a $600 stimulus payment, married couples earning less than $150,000 annually would receive $1,200 and this legislation includes an additional $600 payment per child.

Bolstered Support for Small Businesses in New Hampshire:

Provides $284.45 billion for a second round of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans to help businesses get through the pandemic.

Simplifies loan forgiveness process for borrowers with PPP loans of less than $150,000, making it easier for the more than 21,000 NH businesses who received smaller PPP loans.

Expands PPP eligibility to include local chambers of commerce.

Includes $15 billion for independent music venues and movie theaters.

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Funding for COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution & Local Health Response:

In June, Rep. Kuster led legislation to expand and enhance the manufacturing capacity of COVID-19 vaccines. This COVID relief bill includes language modeled off Rep. Kuster’s legislation to invest over $19 billion in the nation’s supply of COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics, including the manufacture, production, and purchase of vaccines, therapeutics, and ancillary supplies.

Dedicates $8.75 billion for vaccine distribution and administration, with a targeted investment of $300 million for high-risk and underserved populations, including rural areas.

Includes $4.25 billion in funding for mental health and substance misuse treatment and prevention services.

Provides long-term extensions of critical public health programs, including funding for Community Health Centers. Last week, Rep. Kuster led a letter with 20 of her House colleagues championing the long-term reauthorization of funding for health centers.

Extended Unemployment Assistance & Economic Support for Families:

Provides an additional $300 per week through March 2021 in unemployment compensation to support Granite Staters out of work.

Prevents Americans from being evicted during the holiday season by extending federal eviction moratorium through January 31, 2021 and provides an additional $25 billion to help renters stay in their homes.

Includes $10 billion in funding for Child Care and Development Block Grants to provide immediate assistance to child care providers.

Increases Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, sometimes referred to as food stamps, by 15% for the next six months.

Support for Students & Educators

Invests $54.3 billion in K-12 education to help make infrastructure upgrades to protect teachers and students from COVID-19.

Provides a $22.7 billion lifeline to help institutions of higher education and their students.

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New Hampshire Funding Priorities Included in FY2021 Omnibus Appropriations Bill

Northern Border Regional Commission – $30 million

Rep. Kuster led a bipartisan, bicameral letter in March 2020 advocating for robust funding of $30 million to support job-creating projects in New Hampshire. This legislation includes language from Rep. Kuster’s bipartisan bill, the Northern Border Regional Commission Financial Flexibility Act, which would waive the non-Federal matching requirement for grant recipients, ensuring that NBRC funding can continue to flow to New Hampshire projects during the pandemic.

Cold Regions Research Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) – $4.2 million

Rep. Kuster helped secure critical funding to finalize the development and installation of research projects at CRREL in Hanover, NH which will help our Armed Forces establish a strategic advantage in the Arctic region.

Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) – $900 million

Rep. Kuster has been a tireless advocate for LWCF and worked across the aisle to secure full funding to maintain the development of conservation and recreation programs in New Hampshire.

Continuum of Care Homelessness Funds for Survivors of Sexual Violence – $52 million

As a founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Task Force to End Sexual Violence, Rep. Kuster led a bipartisan effort to secure additional funding for rapid re-housing projects and services for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Having a new, safe place to call home makes a significant difference as survivors begin to rebuild their lives and finances.

USDA Rural Development Programs – $3.9 billion

As a former Member of the House Agriculture Committee, Rep. Kuster worked to advance investments in USDA-RD which finances projects in New Hampshire ranging from drinking water infrastructure upgrades to expanding low-income housing in rural communities.

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