Congressman Steven Horsford Votes to Pass Heroes Act and Provide $8.7 Billion to Nevada’s State and Local Governments

Washington, D.C. -- Today, Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-04) voted to pass the Heroes Act: urgently-needed legislation to protect the lives and livelihoods of the American people and the life of our democracy – responding to the pandemic and the economic catastrophe that has followed. The legislation is expected to provide roughly $8.7 billion to Nevada's state and local governments in 2020 and 2021.

"We owe our heroes in the fight against the coronavirus, an enormous debt of gratitude. Nevada's health care, first responders, teachers, transit, food, sanitation and other essential workers risk their lives to save lives every day, and they are now at risk for losing their jobs as our local governments suffer revenue loss in this crisis," Congressman Horsford said. "For these Nevadans, and for frontline workers across the country, I cast my vote to pass the Heroes Act and provide invaluable support to state and local governments, including our hardest-hit in Nevada, to help to pay the health care workers, police, fire, transportation, EMS, teachers and other vital workers who keep us safe and are in danger of losing their jobs."

Preliminary estimates from the House Appropriations Committee report that Nevada's state government would receive $2.64 billion, while Nevada's cities and counties would see $1.76 billion. In 2021, the state is expected to receive $3.4 billion, with counties and cities receiving an additional $880 million.

The Heroes Act would also provide more direct payments to Nevada's families with a second round of direct payments to families up to $6,000 per household, new payroll protection measures to keep 60 million workers connected with their jobs and extending weekly $600 federal unemployment payments through next January.

The Heroes Act also includes two provisions championed by Congressman Horsford: The Worker Health Protection Act to cover 100 percent of COBRA costs for laid off or furloughed workers, and the Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Act of 2020 to require the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services to publish demographic information on COVID-19 infections and deaths in long-term care facilities.

Congressman Horsford also worked tirelessly within the House Ways and Means Committee to advocate for Nevada's families, workers, and small businesses. More information on those particular provisions within his jurisdiction can be found here.

The Heroes Act also:

• Commits another $75 billion for the testing, tracing and treatment we need in order to have a science-based path to safely reopen our country and help ensure that every American can access free coronavirus treatment.
• Provides strong support for our heroes with nearly $1 trillion for state, local, territorial and tribal governments on the frontlines who desperately need funds. The Heroes Act will also establish a $200 billion Heroes' fund to ensure that essential workers receive hazard pay.
• Puts money in the pockets of workers with a second round of direct payments to families up to $6,000 per household, new payroll protection measures to keep 60 million workers connected with their jobs and extending weekly $600 federal unemployment payments through next January.
• Supports small businesses by strengthening the Payroll Protection Program to ensure that it reaches underserved communities, nonprofits of all sizes and types and responds flexibly to small businesses by providing $10 billion for Covid-19 emergency grants through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program.
• Ensures further support for Americans, including for:
  • health security – with COBRA subsidies and a special enrollment period in the ACA exchanges for those without insurance.
  • workplace security – requiring OSHA to ensure that all workplaces develop science-based infection control plans and preventing employers from retaliating against workers who report problems.
  • housing security – with $175 billion in new support to assist renters and homeowners make monthly rent, mortgage and utility payments and other housing-related costs.
  • food security – with a 15 percent increase to the maximum SNAP benefit and additional funding for nutrition programs that help families put food on the table.
• Protects the life of our democracy with new resources to ensure safe elections, an accurate Census, and preserve the Postal Service.

A section-by-section summary of the legislation is available HERE.

Full text of the Heroes Act can be found HERE.