Shaheen Statement Ahead of Two-Year Anniversary of CARES Act
(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) issued the following statement ahead of tomorrow’s two-year anniversary since the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law:
“Two years after the CARES Act was signed into law, we’re continuing to see the impact on our small businesses, hospitals, families and more. When Democrats and Republicans came together to write this historic legislation amid an unprecedented crisis, partisan politics fell to the wayside and around-the-clock negotiations gave way to the lifelines that would ultimately get our nation through the darkest months of the pandemic: the Paycheck Protection Program, the Provider Relief Fund and much more. I’m proud to have led negotiations to create the PPP and later to bolster and preserve the PRF, which have been instrumental to Granite State communities and are continuing to carry New Hampshire through as we work to put COVID-19 in the rearview mirror. But even two years later, our work is far from over,” said Shaheen.
Shaheen continued, “Nearly a million Americans have died from COVID, almost 2,500 of whom were Granite Staters. These are not merely figures – these are loved ones, friends and community members who we continue to mourn. While the worst of the pandemic is behind us, we are not out of the woods yet. The toll on our children’s mental health, the financial hardships facing parents seeking affordable child care, the struggles impacting vulnerable communities experiencing housing and food insecurity and much more demonstrate that more must be done. This includes getting federal dollars, some of which was provided by the CARES Act, out the door in New Hampshire. It is past time that the State disburses these funds to those who need them, two years after this bill was signed into law. Congress has since passed two robust pieces of legislation to deliver continued assistance as our communities fight their way back – and we aren’t done. Funding for vaccines and antiviral medication so we’re prepared for future waves is fundamental to our preparedness and to save lives. I’ll continue to work with lawmakers on legislation to assist working families as we fight to turn the page on COVID-19 once and for all because even when we put the pandemic behind us, the economic and emotional impact will stay with us. We need every lawmaker on both sides of the aisle working together to meet those challenges, and I look forward to building on what Congress has accomplished to tackle those issues head on.”
Senator Shaheen was a lead negotiator of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which secured New Hampshire an initial $1.25 billion to assist with COVID-19 response efforts. Shaheen helped lead discussions on provisions in the CARES to assist small businesses and established the Paycheck Protection Program and expanded the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program. Both of these programs have been lifelines for businesses throughout New Hampshire and the country. Senator Shaheen was also a member of the bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers that steered negotiations of emergency COVID-19 relief. In addition, Shaheen worked to secure numerous provisions in the American Rescue Plan, which was signed into law last year and delivered robust, long-term recovery provisions to help Granite Staters and Americans across the country build back from the COVID-19 pandemic. In that legislation, Senator Shaheen helped lead negotiations on measures related to funding for hospitals and assistance for state and local governments during negotiations with the Senate and calls with the White House. The ARP includes premium tax credit enhancement provisions from her legislation, the Improving Health Insurance Affordability Act.
