Warnock & Ossoff Outline Significant COVID-19 Relief Aid They Are Fighting To Deliver To Georgians
TDS News – Today, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA) outlined significant COVID-19 relief aid they are working to deliver to Georgia families in President Biden’s American Rescue Plan.
Over one year after the first COVID-19 case was diagnosed in the U.S., families across the country are still struggling and are in urgent need of aid. Previous relief bills passed by Congress have helped stop some of the economic bleeding and kept families out of total financial ruin, and without big, bold action, the road to full recovery will be longer and more painful for families all across the Georgia.
“Democrats are dedicated to delivering desperately needed COVID relief and thanks to Georgia Senators Jon Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock, this COVID-19 bill will be bigger and bolder and will bring significantly more help to Georgians and Americans.
“These talented Senators are fighting tirelessly to keep the promises we made. Their game-changing election is proof that your vote matters, and because they are in the Senate, Democrats are on the path to secure direct payments, funding for vaccinations, rental and mortgage assistance, an expanded Child Tax Credit, a Medicaid expansion incentive, money for HBCU’s, and so much more.” said Leader Schumer
Direct Payments: In President Biden’s rescue plan, a family of four earning $75,000 annually would receive a total of $5,600 in direct payments from this relief bill for themselves and their 4 year old and 8 year old children. They would also see a $2,600 increase in benefits through an enhanced Child Tax Credit. Between these two benefits alone, this family would receive $8,200 in additional, direct relief to help weather the economic crisis.
- Medicaid expansion incentive: If accepted by the state, this Medicaid expansion incentive would provide health care to approximately 500,000 Georgians who are currently locked out of any financial assistance for health coverage. Georgia would receive nearly $2 billion in additional Medicaid spending over two years if it expands Medicaid, by far enough to fully cover the cost of expansion.
Historically Black Colleges and Universities: Similar to previous COVID-19 relief packages, the American Rescue Plan will include a Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), this fund would provide an estimated $1.2 billion in direct grants to institutions in Georgia. In addition, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Minority Serving Institutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities would receive a 7.5% share of the HEERF fund, which accounts to nearly $3 billion in relief for these institutions. A portion of those funds will go to eligible institutions in Georgia.
Relief for Black Farmers: The American Rescue Plan will provide debt relief and support for Black, Indigenous, and farmers of color who have faced historic discrimination, been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, and largely left out of the previous administration’s emergency COVID programs.
Rental and Mortgage Assistance: Senators are building on the $710 million for rental assistance from the December COVID package, working to secure at least $550M more in this package. Georgia is also likely to get over $200 million in new homeowner assistance fund that will allow low and moderate income families to pay their mortgage and utility costs.
Vaccine Distribution: The bill provides $20 billion in vaccine distribution funding, including for CDC and FEMA to set up state and federal distribution sites, outreach and education campaigns, support for states to fund vaccinators and more.
K-12 School Funding: The American Rescue Plan will include an Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSERF) which will provide Georgia with an estimated $4.4 billion in emergency relief for schools to safely reopen across the state. These flexible funds will allow schools to cover COVID-related expenses, reduce class size, implement social distancing guidelines, and address other instructional needs. In addition, school districts would be required to dedicate 20% of their allocations towards addressing learning loss.
Leader Schumer and Senators Ossoff and Warnock have already been working in a bipartisan basis to address the urgent needs of the most serious health and economic crisis our country has faced in generations and outlined today that they are working to secure the following aid for Georgia families.
