Senator Hassan Votes to Pass Comprehensive COVID-19 Relief Package

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) voted today to pass the American Rescue Plan, a comprehensive COVID-19 relief package that supports public health and provides critical assistance to Granite Staters and small businesses. The package includes Senator Hassan’s bipartisan bill to support new businesses that are currently left out of most relief programs and Senator Hassan’s amendment that passed on a bipartisan basis to require schools receiving relief funds to develop and make publicly available plans to return to in-person learning.

Senator Hassan issued the following statement after the vote:

“The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated communities across New Hampshire, taking the lives of more than 1,100 Granite Staters and creating unprecedented challenges for families trying to get by and small businesses working to stay afloat. To emerge from the pandemic, we need a comprehensive relief package that addresses the pressing needs of our state and our country – and that’s what this package does.

“This legislation reflects what Granite Staters from across our state have told me time and again that they need. The package will help save lives by strengthening vaccine distribution efforts and will significantly reduce costs for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. It delivers on the economic relief that my colleagues and I have fought for, including $1,400 direct checks for adults and $1,400 to parents per child, as well as extended unemployment insurance. And it will provide significant relief for small businesses, including pieces that I secured to open relief to new businesses that were previously ineligible for most COVID relief as well as expanded relief for restaurants.

“The package also provides the resources that schools need to reopen as safely as possible and includes my amendment that requires schools receiving relief funds to develop and make public a plan for returning to in-person instruction. It also continues to support children who may have fallen behind amid the pandemic, including through federal funding to expand nutrition benefits and broadband access to students and families. In addition, the package includes funding I secured to support fire fighters and emergency management, and includes the state and local aid that our communities need to help hold down property taxes and prevent layoffs of public safety personnel and teachers. This consequential package will save lives, create jobs, and help get our economy back on track – preparing our nation to recover from the pandemic with the spirit and optimism that is our hallmark. I am grateful to all of the Granite Staters and Americans from across the country who have been willing to speak up and share their pain, grit, and hope as we have worked to respond to this unprecedented crisis. You all made a true difference.”

On Monday at 2:30, Senator Hassan will hold a virtual roundtable with New Hampshire business owners and business leaders to discuss the new relief that she authored in this package to support startups and new businesses. For more details or to RSVP, please email press@hassan.senate.gov.

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