New York to get $54 billion in pandemic relief, Sen. Chuck Schumer says
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks during a news conference on Dec. 8. Credit: TNS/Yuri Gripas
This story was reported by Rachelle Blidner, Jesse Coburn, Lisa L. Colangelo, Michael Gormley, Laura Figueroa Hernandez and David Reich-Hale. It was written by Figueroa Hernandez.
WASHINGTON — New York is poised to receive $54 billion in coronavirus relief funding as part of the more than $900 billion package that was passed by Congress on Monday, Sen. Chuck Schumer said.
Schumer (D-N.Y.), who served as a lead negotiator on the relief bill in his role as Senate Minority Leader, said the money includes $9 billion for direct cash payments to eligible New Yorkers, similar to cash payments that were part of the federal CARES Act, which passed in March.
Under the new measure, individuals making up to $75,000 will be eligible for a direct payment of $600. Couples making less than $150,000 will be eligible for $1,200. Individuals and couples who meet the income criteria and have children will be eligible for an additional $600 per child.
"Clearly, there is more to be done," said Schumer in an interview. "This is not a stimulus bill, this is a survival bill, and we will fight for more relief."
Individuals making up to $75,000 will be eligible for a direct payment of $600.
Couples making less than $150,000 will be eligible for $1,200.
Those with children meeting income criteria will be eligible for an additional $600 per child
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, appearing on CNBC on Monday, said he expected direct payments could be issued "at the beginning of next week."
Aside from the direct payments, the money allocated for New York includes funding for schools, the Long Island Rail Road, hospitals and small businesses.
State and local leaders described the measure as a good start, but decried the exclusion of direct aid to state and local governments hardest hit by the pandemic.
While Republicans including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, of Kentucky, blocked money for state and local governments, Schumer said Democrats were able to negotiate "workarounds" in the aid bill to provide some funding that states and municipalities will be able to direct toward education, transportation and emergency health care needs.
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo criticized the deal struck by the Trump administration, the Republican-led Senate and the Democrat-led House. Cuomo said the lack of direct aid to state and local coffers would force layoffs of critical public workers including teachers and health care professionals who will administer coronavirus vaccines.
"We don’t choose in this country who lives and dies. We should be fair to everyone," Cuomo said. "When you don’t fund states and cities, that means they lay off police and teachers … You hurt people."
McConnell had described requests for aid from New York and other hard hit states as a "blue-state bail out."
"I just hope Joe Biden gets in quickly and sanity is restored to the nation," Cuomo said of the Democratic president-elect. Biden has said he will support passage of additional stimulus legislation once he assumes office on Jan. 20.
Nassau County Executive Laura Curran called the new $900 billion bill "a very good start," saying "the need for relief has never been greater."
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said although "this survival package falls short of delivering necessary disaster aid to state and local governments, it does represent a good first step towards helping Americans in need."
Here is a look at some of what New York is expected to receive:
Education $5.8 billion for schools
Education $5.8 billion for schools
Public schools and universities across the state are slated to receive $5.8 billion in funding, according to a summary of the bill provided by Schumer's office
The legislation would allocate $4 billion for elementary and secondary schools.
Officials raced over the summer to buy classroom desk shields, computers for remote learning and other equipment necessary to teach during the pandemic.
Colleges and universities in New York that have battled coronavirus on campus and implemented large-scale virus testing programs, would receive $1.4 billion. The Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund would receive $313 million.
Representatives of the state Education Department did not respond to a question about how much of the $5.8 billion in school and college funding would go to Long Island.
Roger Tilles, who represents Long Island on the state Board of Regents, said the education funding is a good start but falls short of what’s needed.
"This certainly helps a lot," he said. But "it's not enough."
Transportation $4 billion for the MTA
Transportation $4 billion for the MTA
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the parent agency of the Long Island Rail Road, would receive $4 billion through the relief bill, Schumer said. That’s less than the $12 billion the authority said it needs to balance a drop in toll and fare revenue during the pandemic.
An MTA spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a question about how much of the $4 billion will go to the LIRR.
The legislation also includes $200 million for other transit services in New York; $426 million for the state Department of Transportation; and $105.5 million for local airports, including $64.7 million for John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport.
Schumer’s office could not immediately say whether any of the funding would go to airports or bus agencies in Nassau and Suffolk counties. A state DOT spokesman only said his department was reviewing the legislation.
State Sen. Todd Kaminsky (D-Long Beach), a member of the Senate’s Transportation Committee, called the package a good start toward addressing Long Island transportation needs. But Kaminsky noted the state is still facing a $15 billion deficit.
"That is the money that pays for the upkeep of Long Island's roads and repairs them when needed," Kaminsky said. "So having state and local funding in the next package with President [Joe] Biden is absolutely critical."
Health care $1.6 billion for vaccine, testing and tracing efforts
Health care $1.6 billion for vaccine, testing and tracing efforts
New York will receive $1.6 billion to help local governments with vaccine distribution, coronavirus testing and contact tracing, and an additional $1 billion for hospitals and health care centers. The money is expected to be divided evenly between New York City and state.
Health systems are awaiting more specifics, said Kevin Dahill, chief executive of the Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council, which lobbies on behalf of area hospitals.
"We expect that there will be a couple of fixes to problems we've had with the Medicare reimbursement formula," Dahill said.
Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) said New York-area health systems need financial support.
"New York and New York area hospitals were the epicenter of the crisis," Suozzi said. "There have been long-term effects on our hospital systems, and while we are doing better than the rest of the country right now, we still face tremendous strains."
At the height of the pandemic in the spring, Long Island hospital executives said COVID-19 would cost the institutions a total of more than $1 billion. But CARES Act funding helped curtail financial losses.
"The CARES Act money helped with the losses, but the losses continue to accrue," Dahill said.
Safety Net Assistance $1.3 billion for rental relief
Safety Net Assistance $1.3 billion for rental relief
The bill provides $1.3 billion for Emergency Rental Assistance, including $18 million for Nassau County and $45 million for Suffolk County to help eligible residents with rental and utility payments. The federal eviction moratorium also will be extended until Jan. 31, 2021, Schumer said.
Food Stamp benefits will increase by 15% from January thru June of next year, providing extra food assistance for nearly 2.8 million New Yorkers enrolled in the program.
More than $6.5 billion will be allocated to provide those receiving unemployment benefits from the state with an additional $300 per week.
Small businesses $20 billion for paycheck protection
Small businesses $20 billion for paycheck protection
The bill includes $20 billion for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans to aid small businesses.
Entertainment $15 billion (nationally) for theaters, other venues
Entertainment $15 billion (nationally) for theaters, other venues
The bill provides $15 billion nationwide in "Save our Stages" funding that Broadway theaters, live entertainment venues, cultural institutions and independent movie theaters will be eligible for.
