Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett Works with Democrats to Secure Substantial Investments in Government Funding Bill that Has $900 Billion in Covid-19 Relief

Statement

Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett released the following statement regarding passage of an amendment to H.R.133, the "Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021" which includes an estimated $900 billion for coronavirus relief activities:

"This $900 billion in emergency coronavirus relief will support efforts to protect the lives and livelihoods of Virgin Islanders and the American people. Among its provisions, the bill:

Funds another round of direct stimulus checks to Americans, providing $600 for both adults and children. The Virgin Islands will be reimbursed by the federal government for the cost of the stimulus checks, like it was for the first round of rebates earlier this year.
Extends pandemic-related unemployment benefits until mid-March and provides an additional $300 per week above regular state rates. Assistance to the unemployed will be provided to the Virgin Islands in the same fashion as States.
"I am pleased to see the COVID-19 relief funding legislation also includes:

$325 billion in aid to small businesses through the Paycheck Protection Program, allowing employers to obtain a second round of additional assistance;
$80 billion to assist schools;
$25 billion for renters and extends the eviction moratorium through January 31, 2020;
$69 billion for testing and vaccine distribution.
$2 billion in assistance for U.S. transportation service providers -- including U.S. flag passenger vessel operators such as passenger ferries. Passenger ferries in the Virgin Islands will be eligible for new federal assistance.
"In addition, this omnibus bill provides full Fiscal Year 2021 funding for many federal agencies and programs that support the Virgin Islands, including programs under the Departments of Commerce, Education, Housing, Interior, Justice, and Labor. For example, annual assistance to territories from the Department of Interior will be increased by more than $3.8 million.

"Furthermore, this legislation contains the biennial Water Resources Development Act for 2020, with provisions for long-term federal support for water-related infrastructure in the Virgin Islands. Notably, the bill will reauthorize the federal projects for navigation in the harbors of St. Thomas and Christiansted, St. Croix. The reauthorization of these projects will provide the harbors access to federal resources for maintenance dredging and improvements to navigation systems, which will allow them to accommodate more and larger cruise ships over the long-term and better compete in the Caribbean market.

"This emergency relief bill is an important initial step, which must be built on under the Biden-Harris Administration. We must move forward in a science-based way to meet the needs of the American people during this time of great suffering. Next month, when Joe Biden enters the White House, more help will be on the way."

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