<p><strong>Article by <a href="http://www.ny-fama.com"><span style="color: #ff0000;">NY FAMA</span></a></strong></p>
<p class="Article__Headline__Title" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Congress approves $484B economic relief package to help small business, hospitals, boost testing</strong></p>
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<p class="Article__Headline__Desc" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Many lawmakers wore masks and gloves during the debate and vote.</strong></p>
<p>Overwhelmingly today (Thursday) the House approved a $484 billion relief package to help small businesses, hospitals and first responders, as well as increase nationwide testing for the coronavirus.</p>
<p>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZktLJoUoS4&amp;t=6s</p>
<p>The nearly half-a-trillion dollar relief package will pump</p>
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<li>$310 billion back into the depleted small business loan program known as the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).</li>
<li>$120 billion for the smallest of businesses.</li>
<li>$75 billion more to hospitals.</li>
<li>$25 billion for coronavirus testing.</li>
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<p>The vote was 388 to 5, with Independent Rep. Justin Amash voting "present.".</p>
<p>New Yorker Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was the only Democrat to oppose the measure along with Republican Reps. Andy Biggs of Arizona, Ken Buck of Colorado, Georgia’s Jody Hice, and Thomas Massie of Kentucky.</p>
<p>On this fourth stimulus measure, a $484 billion piece of legislation, some Lawmakers returned to vote in person, wearing masks and gloves</p>
<p>Republicans insisted on the in-person vote, and many voiced concern that Congress was not yet back in session full-time, something currently scheduled for May 4.</p>
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<div>Pelosi, calling the day historic, signed the measure almost immediately afterward as congressional leaders stood well over six feet apart.<br />With her scarf over her face, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said:</div>
<div class="Byline__Group flex" style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>“Our nation faces a deadly virus, a battered economy with tens of thousands of sick and some died, millions out of work. This is really a very, very, very sad day.</em>We come to the floor with nearly 50,000 deaths, a huge number of people impacted. The uncertainty of it all. We have to be very prayerful.”</strong></div>
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<p>The Relief package now heads to President's desk for his expected signature.</p>
<p>One week ago Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin requested an emergency $250 billion infusion of funds for PPP as the program was running out of cash, and for that reason Republicans blamed Democrats for what they saw as a partisan delay.</p>
<p>Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy said:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>“To those 4.4 million Americans who were laid off this week, Congress owes you an apology... They made a sacrifice, but they got sacrificed by politics last week. Shame on this body.”</strong></p>
<p>House Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer fired back, accusing the minority of <em><strong>“blatant politics,” </strong></em>accusing Republicans could have saved time by <em><strong>"agreeing to what Democrats proposed weeks ago which is now part of the current, far better legislation." </strong></em></p>
<p>And Democratic Leader continue saying:</p>
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<div class="CalloutLink-item" style="text-align: center;"><em><strong> “What did we get? A hundred and twenty additional billion for small businesses. We all talk about being for the small business. What this does is put another $120 billion in addition to what was already approved,”</strong></em></div>
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<p>Sources: <strong><a href="http://www.ny-fama.com">NY FAMA</a></strong> - ABC News - </p>
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<p>Cover Photo by ABC News</p>
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<p>By Alex Ammohostianos</p>
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