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Rep. Demings to support ‘The Heroes Act’, including $26 million for Apopka specifically

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Relief for struggling Americans, small businesses and communities - new details on benefits for Florida and Orange County

From the Office of US Representative Val Demings

Rep. Demings announced support for The Heroes Act on Friday, House Democrats’ new legislation to provide emergency relief for struggling Americans, small businesses and communities.

“This is a crisis we’ve never seen before and we need to do things we’ve never done before," said Rep Demings. "This unprecedented emergency support is vital to help families and communities survive this pandemic, which has taken over 80,000 American lives and caused a depression-level economic crash.

“Our focus in this legislation is to support working families, shore up struggling small businesses, ensure that local communities can continue to provide lifesaving services, and create critical protections for essential and frontline workers.

"...The truth is that people are struggling. Either we help now, or America is facing a dark, deep depression which will last for years. That’s not an option, so I and my Democratic colleagues are taking action.”

An analysis prepared by the Congressional Research Service estimates that in addition to its other provisions, the Heroes Act will provide $26.6 billion for the Florida Coronavirus Relief Fund in 2020 and 2021.

In addition, the legislation includes the following for COVID-19 response in communities in the 10th Congressional District:

Orange County: $787 million

Orlando: $166 million

Apopka: $26 million

Ocoee: $24 million

Winter Garden: $22 million

Belle Isle: $3.5 million

Windermere: $1.7 million

Edgewood: $1.5 million

Oakland: $1.5 million

Eatonville: $1.1 million

Lake Butler: $887,178

Lake Buena Vista: $13,330

The Heroes Act also includes a $90 billion fund to support state and local public education, including $5,231,568 for Florida communities. This funding will help maintain or restore state and local fiscal support for elementary, secondary and public higher education and can be used to meet a wide range of urgent needs, including summer learning, afterschool programs, distance learning, and emergency financial aid for college students as well as coordination with public health departments to mitigate the spread of disease.

In addition to resources for our state, local, tribal and territorial governments, the Heroes Act provides transformative, far-reaching support to protect the lives and livelihoods of the American people and the life of our democracy.

Provides strong support for our heroes by establishing a $200 billion Heroes’ fund to ensure that essential workers across the country receive hazard pay.

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 helping ensure that every American can access free coronavirus treatment.

Puts money in the pockets of workers with a second round of direct payments to families up to $6,000 per household ($1,200 per individual, including retroactively closing the loopholes that excluded students and dependent adults during the first round of relief), new payroll protection measures to keep 60 million workers connected with their jobs and extending weekly $600 federal unemployment payments through next January. Additionally, the bill includes $10,000 in student debt cancellation.

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 Floridians and all 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 supports to assist renters and homeowners make monthly rent, mortgage and utility payments and other housing-related costs. Also, a 12-month moratorium on evictions and foreclosures.

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.

Coronavirus Relief, Rep. Val Demings, The Heroes Act

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