Omaha, Neb. – Congressman Don Bacon (NE-02) has been instrumental in providing direct relief to Nebraska’s Second District by supporting critical legislation such as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the Paycheck Protection Program, and the Flexibility for Localities and Eligibility Expansion (FLEX) Act of 2020.

Last November, Reps. Don Bacon, Paul Tonko (NY-20) and Jim Langevin (RI-02) introduced H.R. 4982, the Health Care Workforce Protection Act to ensure our nation was prepared in the wake of a global pandemic. This bill was included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and will cover all NIOSH-certified masks under the PREP Act.

 “In nearly every public health emergency with an airborne hazard, the CDC urges the use of these respirators in order to keep workers safe,” said Rep. Bacon. “I’m glad to see my bill included in the CARES Act, which provides the much-needed relief for Nebraska families and businesses as we work together to fight the virus, protect our workforce, and sustain our economy that was rapidly growing prior to this pandemic.”

Rep. Bacon is also a cosponsor of H.R. 7010, the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020 which amends the Small Business Act and the CARES Act to provide greater flexibility to small businesses by extending the duration of the PPP, increasing loan coverage, and allowing greater flexibility in forgiveness and repayment.

“The Paycheck Protection Program has saved nearly 51 million jobs by keeping many small businesses solvent during COVID,” said Rep. Bacon. “We want to ensure America’s small businesses are given every chance to survive this pandemic and are able to remain open without fear of closing or losing revenue.”

After talking with local mayors and the League of Municipalities, Congressman Bacon introduced H.R. 6652 the Flexibility for Localities and Eligibility Expansion (FLEX) Act of 2020; bipartisan legislation allowing additional flexibility for state and local governments to access previously approved federal relief funds to offset lost revenue due to the health emergency from COVID-19.

“Our municipalities are losing revenue sources and we need to help them just like we have helped small businesses, farmers and healthcare systems,” said Rep. Bacon. “The FLEX Act provides cities and towns the much-need assistance and flexibility to access CARES Act funding, money that has already been appropriated but redirected to keep our first responders, firefighters, and essential workers employed.”

 For more information about the FLEX Act, read our news release here.

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