Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minnesota)

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Posted: May 12, 2020

Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minnesota). Photo: National Congress of American Indians

For Immediate Release

May 12, 2020

McCollum Statement on Introduction of the $3 Trillion Heroes Act
The next COVID-19 emergency response package protects the lives and livelihoods of the American people

SAINT PAUL, MINN. – Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) released the following statement today after House Democrats introduced the next COVID-19 emergency response bill, The Heroes Act(H.R. 6800):

“Passing the $3 trillion Heroes Act is the next action we must take as a nation to save lives and save our communities from economic ruin. State, local, and tribal governments desperately need funding to ensure vital workers can stay on the job to continue keeping us safe, American families need additional direct cash payments to cushion the extreme financial strain many are facing, and more investments are needed to expand testing, treatment, and contact tracing and isolation measures to help contain the spread of COVID-19.

“Every American family is feeling the pain of this crisis in one way or another. This bill is the next step in a comprehensive, coordinated, timely federal response to help our economy and our public health recover.

“Americans are counting on Senate Majority Leader McConnell and the Republican Senate to act with urgency and join us in taking up this bold legislation to protect the lives and livelihoods of Americans across the nation.”

The Heroes Act contains:

Nearly $1 trillion for state, local, and tribal governments so first responders, health care workers, public health workers, and others can stay on the job providing essential services that keep us safe, including more than $8 billion for the state of Minnesota through 2021;
$2.1 billion for the Indian Health Service to help Native American communities to support COVID-19 testing, telehealth, treatment, and medical supplies; $900 million for the Bureau of Indian Affairs to meet tribal government needs necessary to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus;
$75 billion for coronavirus testing, contact tracing, and isolation measures to help contain the spread of the coronavirus;
An additional round of $1,200 direct cash payments to individuals and families, up to $6,000 per household;
$40 million for USGS research related to wildlife-borne disease;
Additional funds for housing, food security, unemployment benefits, small business aid, and more.