Photo Courtesy of Rep. Jeffries’s Office
“We defeated the Great Depression. We defeated Nazi Germany. We defeated Jim Crow. We will defeat COVID-19 as well,” said Rep. Hakeem Jeffries.
By Michael V. Cusenza
New York is set to receive more than $112 billion in federal support courtesy of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, according to national lawmakers who represent all or parts of the Empire State.
“That is $112 billion for workers, families, health care and New York,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Sunday. “This funding puts critical dollars in the hands of health centers and professionals who risk their lives and health every day during this crisis. New York is seeing more confirmed cases and more deaths each day, and our health workers are on the frontlines of the fight to treat the growing number of coronavirus patients in our hospitals.These numbers are good, but like I said, we want to do more, because we are an epicenter.”
New York’s senior senator also noted that he has spoken with U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin about New York’s funding and said the secretary has promised to help NY with its ability to use each and every dollar it has received.
The details of the latest projections appear in the breakdown below.
$33.8 Billion – Small Business Administration payroll relief to New York small businesses.
$25 Billion – Hospital and other medical facilities. For protective equipment for health care workers, testing supplies, staffing and new construction to expand services.
$16 Billion – Unemployment Compensation on Steroids for New Yorkers.
$15 Billion – Direct cash payments. $1,200 for individuals and $2,400 for couples making less than $75,000 and a graduated smaller amount for those making up to $99,000.
$7.5 Billion – Disaster Relief Fund through FEMA programs, estimated using current rate of payments to New York.
$7.5 Billion – State and local COVID-19 relief fund.
$4.1 Billion – Transit systems, especially the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (set to receive $3.8 billion of the $4.1 billion), which is directly supported by the NY State budget.
$2 Billion – Strategic National Stockpile.
$1 Billion – Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund – K-12.
Other funding sources for New York:
$690.4 Million – Airport Improvement Grants
$193 Million – Community Development Grants
$191.4 Million – HUD Homeless Assistance, Emergency Solutions Grants
$164.6 Million – Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund
$162.4 Million – Child Care Development Block Grants
“The war against the coronavirus is unlike anything the world has ever seen, and my community is at the epicenter of this unprecedented pandemic. Our workers, small businesses, neighbors, children and elderly are hurting—without an end in sight. Our workers and small businesses are making the impossible decision to risk their economic health, in exchange for the safety and health of their own families and their neighbors. Most of all, the frontline health care workers across my district are waging this battle to save our lives. But we are asking them to go into battle without all the necessary tools and equipment. Today’s passage of the CARES Act is critical because Queens cannot wait,” U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Flushing) wrote in a statement issued Friday.“The original coronavirus bill was shamefully lacking in providing enough relief for families, our hospitals, and relief for small businesses; it put corporations above workers. This bill is not perfect and there is more to do. But it will bring necessary and immediate relief. The CARES Act will give short-term relief to families and workers who are hurting right now through direct cash assistance. This bill will give immediate relief to our health care system and the workers on the frontlines. This bill pauses federal student loan payments. Most of all, this bill is not the end; it is only the beginning.”
Forum Photo by Michael V. Cusenza
Sen. Gillibrand pushed for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to immediately award part of the $100 billion in funds for hospitals, such as Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, and healthcare providers that were appropriated in the CARES Act.
Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (D-Queens and Brooklyn) added, “America is the wealthiest country in the history of the world. We also have assembled the mightiest military. But, you cannot judge the greatness of America based on our wealth or our military might. We should only judge the greatness of America based on how we stand up for the least, the lost and the left behind. The CARES bill is legislation that will help and provide relief to the most vulnerable amongst us. It will provide relief to everyday Americans. It will provide relief to small businesses. It will provide relief to displaced workers. The coronavirus is a silent assassin that has targeted the American people. But, we are a resilient nation. We defeated the Great Depression. We defeated Nazi Germany. We defeated Jim Crow. We will defeat COVID-19 as well.”
Additionally, on Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) urged the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to immediately award funds for hospitals and health care providers that were appropriated in the CARES Act.
The coronavirus emergency response package includes $100 billion for the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund to ensure hospitals and health care providers have the adequate resources to combat the COVID-19 outbreak. Unfortunately, the administration has not moved quickly enough in allocating these vital funds to states hit the hardest by the outbreak of COVID-19, like New York, Gillibrand said.
“New York’s hospitals have become war zones and the financial strain is staggering,” Gillibrand said. “They are in dire need of resources to fight this deadly virus and funding for our health care system must be prioritized for New York, which has quickly become the epicenter of this pandemic. It’s critical that the administration work much faster to provide funds to our hospitals and health care providers so they can save lives and combat the spread of coronavirus.”
As of Wednesday morning, there were more than 43,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in New York alone.
