UPDATED: Appropriations plus $900 billion coronavirus relief package full of support for Arkansas

With over 5,000 pages of legislation, there was bound to be plenty to help Arkansans in the newly-passed stimulus and government funding bill. Congress passed a comprehensive $900 billion coronavirus relief package as well as funding for several federal agencies through September 2021 on Monday (Dec. 21). All six of Arkansas’ federally elected officials voted for the legislation.

U.S. Rep. French Hill, R-Little Rock, told Talk Business & Politics in an exclusive interview, the biggest takeaways for him were the measure gives states broad flexibility to help the overall economy, certain fragile business groups, and provides relief for individuals and families.

“The whole debate about the next COVID-19 package was trying to target it for the most bang for the buck and clearly this $900 billion bill, which had strong bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate, I think targets the right areas,” Rep. Hill said.

He expects more debate over coronavirus relief legislation once President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in, but he predicts it will be the second quarter of 2021 before anything begins to move through Congress.

“I think that’s when we ought to look back and assess if we need to do more, but in the meantime, let’s get this money out to our businesses, to our families, to our governors, to our K-12 schools and universities and hospitals, and put it to work,” he said.

Hill will be a guest on this Sunday’s Talk Business & Politics program to discuss the legislation and other political topics.

The measures passed by Congress do quite a bit generally to assist with COVID-19 relief, including:

• $48 billion for vaccine purchases and distribution as well as funding for states to help with COVID-19 testing.
• A second round of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for small businesses that have suffered losses caused by the pandemic.
• Allowing expenses paid with PPP loans to be tax deductible.
• Providing $200 million in assistance to timber harvesting and hauling businesses that suffered losses greater than 10% as a result of the pandemic.
• Extending Medicaid eligibility to citizens of Freely Associated States living in the United States, including many Marshallese residents of Northwest Arkansas.
• $635 million to help close the digital divide and invest in rural broadband through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s ReConnect Program, a crucial need with virtual learning.
• $1.6 billion for Community Health Centers, which have been on the frontlines in many rural communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

U.S. Sens. John Boozman and Tom Cotton, R-Ark., issued separate statements that outlined additional provisions in the legislation specific to Arkansas. They include:

• $8 million to support training at Razorback Range at Fort Chaffee.
• Over $30 million for munitions manufacturing at Pine Bluff Arsenal.
• $15 million for the construction of the Arkansas National Guard Readiness Training Center at Fort Chaffee.
• $66.7 million to support FDA research to promote and protect public health conducted at the National Center for Toxicological Research.
• $30 million for grants from the Delta Regional Authority.
• $35 million for the Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities initiative to support workforce training and education in rural communities across the Delta and Appalachian regions.
• Authorizes the McClellan Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System channel deepening project.
• Authorizes the Ouachita and Black Rivers water supply project.

UPDATE: Tuesday evening, President Donald Trump signaled he might veto the coronavirus relief bill even though his Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin negotiated the deal with Congressional Republicans and Democrats.

Trump said the $600 stimulus checks for individuals was too small and he advocated for $2,000 checks for individuals.

“A few months ago, Congress started negotiations on a new package to get urgently needed help to the American people. It’s taken forever. However, the bill they are now planning to send back to my desk is much different than anticipated. It really is a disgrace,” Trump said in a video released via social media.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said she could muster Democratic support for $2,000 checks on a unanimous consent vote. Several Democratic legislators agreed with Pelosi’s assessment.