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Rep. Titus Statement on Passage of Coronavirus Relief Package

Washington, DC, December 21, 2020 | Kevin Gerson
December 21, 2020
Representative Dina Titus of Nevada’s First Congressional District released the following statement after voting to pass a coronavirus relief package and government funding for fiscal year 2021 via H.R. 133

December 21, 2020

Washington, D.C. – Today Representative Dina Titus of Nevada’s First Congressional District released the following statement after voting to pass a coronavirus relief package and government funding for fiscal year 2021 via H.R. 133: 

“This relief package includes less than I would have liked, but this is the best we could do with Donald Trump in the White House and Republicans in control of the Senate,” said Congresswoman Titus (NV-1). “Las Vegas is hurting badly and some help is better than none at all. I will work with the incoming Biden Administration to build upon this down payment with additional relief that fully meets the needs of Southern Nevadans.

“Nevertheless, people in Las Vegas should take some comfort in knowing that help is on the way heading into the new year. This bill provides funds to accelerate vaccine distribution, reinstate and extend federal unemployment assistance, support small businesses, save live entertainment venues, and provide direct payments to struggling families.

“It should not be lost on anyone that, with the passage of this bill, President Trump will leave office without advancing the dangerous Yucca Mountain waste project. His failure is worth celebrating. We must not allow Nevada to become the dumping ground for the nation’s nuclear waste.”

The coronavirus relief package includes many provisions championed by Congresswoman Titus, including: 

  • Accelerating Vaccine Distribution: $73 billion for vaccine distribution, testing, contact tracing, mental health, support for doctors, and research.
  • Enhanced Unemployment Insurance: $300 per week unemployment insurance enhancement for Americans out of work and increases the maximum number of weeks an individual may claim benefits through regular state unemployment plus the PEUC program, or through the PUA program, from 39 to 50 weeks through March 14, 2021.
  • Support for Small Businesses: $284 billion for first and second forgivable PPP loans, expanded PPP eligibility for non-profits and local newspapers, TV and radio broadcasters, key modifications to PPP to serve the smallest businesses and struggling non-profits. The bill helps independent restaurants by ensuring that PPE, perishable goods, and resources for outdoor seating are eligible expenses under the Paycheck Protection Program.
  • Rental Assistance: $25 billion in critically needed rental assistance for families struggling to stay in their homes and an extension of the federal eviction moratorium through January 31, 2021. This will provide an estimated $205 million in rental assistance for Nevada.
  • Direct Payments: $600 direct payments with an extra $600/per child for eligible individuals and expanded eligibility, retroactive to the CARES Act, for mixed-status families.
  • Nutrition Assistance: $13 billion in increased SNAP and child nutrition benefits to help relieve the historic hunger crisis that has left up to 17 million children food insecure. The bill also increases SNAP benefits for beneficiaries by 15%.
  • Education Funding: $82 billion in funding for colleges and schools, including support for HVAC repair and replacement to mitigate virus transmission and reopen classrooms, and $10 billion for child care assistance to help get parents back to work and keep child care providers open. Congresswoman Titus led the calls for more Head Start funding and the bill includes $250 million for Head Start programs.
  • Save Our Stages: $15 billion for live entertainment venues, independent movie theaters, and cultural institutions. Congresswoman Titus has been a leading voice in favor of providing relief for live entertainment venues and she co-sponsored the Save Our Stages Act. 
  • Relief for Airline and Transportation Workers, Transit Systems, and Airports: Restores the Payroll Support Program to keep airline and airport employees on payroll; $14 billion for transit agencies like RTCSNV; $10 billion for state transportation departments like NDOT; $2 billion for airport authorities to cover losses from reduced air travel. 

The government funding for fiscal year 2021 includes many measures championed by Congresswoman Dina Titus, including: 

  • No Funding for Yucca Mountain: Does not provide the federal government with any money to revitalize Yucca Mountain. 
  • No Funding for Nuclear Testing: Does not provide the federal government with any money to conduct explosive nuclear weapons testing.