Watson Coleman Votes for Additional SBA, Hospital and Testing Funds, Notes “It’s Not Enough”

Washington, DC (April 23, 2020) — Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) issued the following statement after voting to pass H.R. 266 – the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act:

“As important as it is to extend support for small businesses and hospitals, we are failing millions of others by coming to this floor to debate a bill that includes nothing for them. While I voted for this bill, I hear from constituents daily and their message is clear: this isn’t enough.

“This does nothing for frontline workers – and not just nurses and doctors, but the nursing home staff, the transportation workers, the grocery store clerks and warehouse workers that are still showing up to their shifts every day. This doesn’t address the Black and Brown communities that are suffering greater hardships with COVID-19, in terms of both health and finances. And it still doesn’t address the flaws in how we allocate the funds meant to help us with this crisis — flaws that saw New Jersey come up short in dollars despite being the nation’s second biggest hotspot of COVID-19 diagnoses.

“It’s not enough, and I hope that my colleagues are prepared to come back to the capitol very soon so that we can pass a bill that addresses the broad and pressing needs created by this pandemic.”

Watson Coleman recorded a video on the bill before heading to the House floor to vote, which can be viewed here. Last week, she sent a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy urging a broader definition and stronger protections for essential workers in further coronavirus relief packages.