$6B coming to Hawaii in federal COVID-19 relief bill – KHON2

HONOLULU (KHON2) U.S. Senators Brian Schatz and Mazie Hironowere among several lawmakers to vote on a bill that would offer $1.9 trillion in COVID-19 funding.

If the bill passes, Hawaii could get $6.1 billion in the American Rescue Plan Act, of which a portion would go toward bolstering state and local budgets that have sustained significant tax revenue loss due to the pandemic.

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The newest COVID-19 relief bill includes money for unemployment assistance, small businesses, rent relief, vaccine distribution, schools, health care workers and Native Hawaiian programs.

This is just a really useful and urgently needed piece of legislation for the state of Hawaii, explained US Senator Brian Schatz. So, Im real proud of this work, and I think its going to provide the kind of help that we need to get us through the next several months.

Sen. Schatz and other senators spent 27 hours finalizing the bill, which passed the Senate this morning.

As its currently written, households making under $75,000 and couples earning up to $150,000 will be eligible to receive a one-time payment of $1,400.

Unemployment insurance benefits, which were set to expire on March 15, will also get a $300 federal plus up through the first week of September.

Hundreds of millions of dollars will go to rent and mortgage relief, small business assistance and reopening of schools.

State and county assistance At least $2.2 billion for Hawaii

Funding may be used to bolster state and local budgets that have sustained significant tax revenue loss due to the pandemic

An additional $116 million will also go to the State of Hawaii for critical capital projects to enable work, education and healthcare in response to the pandemic.

This money is actually for the purpose of plugging a budget hole, explained Sen. Schatz. So, Im quite confident that both state and county governments should be able to avoid the kinds of cuts that were being contemplated. Laying off or furloughing teachers and other government workers just shouldnt be necessary anymore.

Unemployment assistance At least $575 million in estimated funding for Hawaii workers

Rent and mortgage relief Estimated $226.5 million for Hawaii

Hawaiian Housing Assistance $6.5 million For Hawaii

Small businesses and non-profits $60 billion nationally

Vaccine distribution and procurement At least $20 million for Hawaii

Testing, contact tracing and mitigation $47.8 billion nationally

Health care Estimated $150 million for Hawaii

Direct cash payments Estimated $1.7 billion to Hawaii residents

Nursing homes $1.4 million for Hawaii

Education At least $634 million in estimated funding for Hawaii schools

Electric and water utility assistance $6 million for Hawaii households

Child care and welfare programs $138 million for Hawaii

Early childhood education $3.5 million for Hawaii

Transportation $380 million in estimated funding for Hawaii

Senior and disability support programs $9.2 million for Hawaii

Arts and humanities At least $2.37 million in estimated funding for Hawaii

Expansion of the Child Tax Credit

Health insurance

In Hawaii, a family of four with an income of $120,000 is projected to save $551 per month on their premium payments.

Emergency federal employee paid leave $570 million nationally

Food and nutrition programs

Agriculture $4 billion nationally

Billions of dollars are coming to Hawaii to help families and small businesses. This new package will deliver immediate help to people who have lost their job or cant make their rent. It provides funding for schools and health care and will give our state more resources to get people vaccinated.

The COVID-19 pandemic has touched every family and community in Hawaii and across our country. With so many people still out of work and unable to pay their mortgages and bills, it was crucial for the Senate to pass a sweeping relief bill that meets the urgency of the moment facing our country. By passing the American Rescue Plan, the Senate has taken bold action to put money into peoples pockets, help our schools re-open safely, support state and local governments, speed vaccine distribution, expand health care access, and so much more. I urge the House of Representatives to pass this legislation as soon as possible so that President Biden can sign it into law.

The bill will now go to the House of Representatives, then to the Presidents desk to be signed into law.

The plan from the House is to is to finish the bill on Tuesday and then I know it will go straight to the Presidents desk, itll be law by the end of Tuesday or the beginning of Wednesday, Sen. Schatz said. For Congress to move this quickly on the second biggest rescue package in American history, at the beginning of the Biden administration, it was a really big achievement.

I was really proud of the work we did, We stayed on the Senate floor for 26 and a half straight hours. So it was long, it was dozens of votes, it was lots of arguing and zero sleep, but its all worth it because help is on the way for the people of Hawaii, Sen. Schatz concluded.

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$6B coming to Hawaii in federal COVID-19 relief bill - KHON2