{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.roberts.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/12/senator-roberts-votes-to-send-another-round-of-covid-19-relief-to-kansans", "Senator Roberts Votes to Send Another Round of COVID-19 Relief to Kansans", "2020-12-21", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "KS", "Pat Roberts", "R000307", "www.roberts.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) today voted in support of the $1.4 trillion omnibus bill to fund the federal government, which includes $900 billion in COVID-19 relief.\r\nWe must continue to strive for better days. Ad astra per aspera, said Roberts. This legislation helps to ensure a better future for every Kansan, their neighbors, local businesses, schools, and the economy  while also providing direct, targeted relief to Kansans' pocketbooks.\r\nNotable provisions in the bill include:\r\n \r\nA second round of the Paycheck Protection Program to continue to support the employees of small businesses. \r\n$20 billion for buying vaccines, $8 billion for distributing vaccines, and $20 billion to states for testing. \r\nStimulus checks, up to $600 per person.\r\nAdditional Unemployment Insurance of $300 per week.\r\n$82 billion in funding to help schools and colleges open safely and responsibly, as well as additional student loan relief.\r\nInvestments in hospitals, community health centers, and telehealth so Kansans can get the care when and how they need it.\r\nResources to improve testing, tracing, and treatment. \r\nApproximately $26 billion for agriculture and nutrition programs. Click hereto read more about the agriculture-related provisions. \r\nRoberts' bipartisan legislation, S. 2695, the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) Act of 2019. This bill directs NBAF to protect the food supply, agriculture, and public health of the United States by carrying out relevant objectives of the Homeland Security Presidential Directive 9 and the National Biodefense Strategy. The bill also outlines the national security mission of the facility and the duties of the agencies responsible for implementing that mission, including research, training, and coordination efforts related to animal health, veterinary countermeasure development, emerging foreign animal disease threats, and threat detection. \r\nRoberts' Lifetime Learning Credit Enhancement Act, which will simplify the tax code and make it easier for everyone, especially lower income families, to afford their education. Click here to read more. \r\n \r\nThis legislation builds upon provisions included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, as well as Senate Republicans' efforts to advance the Health, Economic Assistance, Liability Protection, and Schools (HEALS) Act earlier this year.\r\nPresident Trump is expected to sign the legislation swiftly\r\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.roberts.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/12/senator-roberts-votes-to-send-another-round-of-covid-19-relief-to-kansans"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9857460390776396, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}