Congressman William Timmons (SC-04) released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act:

“Over the past few weeks, I have heard from small business owners who have had to shut their doors, workers who have lost their jobs, and families who are unsure how they will pay their bills this month. This is all through no fault of their own, but because of government imposed measures to slow the spread of COVID-19. In this unprecedented crisis, I believe the government has a responsibility to provide relief for those who have been hurt from a health crisis beyond their control. That is why I supported the bipartisan CARES Act today. 

“As many of you know, I had real concerns with the previous coronavirus legislation due to the mandates on small businesses that I believe would have done more harm than good for South Carolina’s small businesses and the millions of people they employ. The bipartisan CARES Act addresses these concerns by offering small businesses loans and grants to keep their doors open and keep employees paid so that when this crisis is over, they will have a job to come back to.

“Our hospitals also need help. Our health care workers are working tirelessly, selflessly putting their own health and safety on the line to treat and care for patients with COVID-19. This bill provides direct funding to hospitals and health care workers to combat this pandemic. My support today provided money to states, cities, and localities to assist in their response, support for hospitals as they treat COVID-19, and additional funding for badly-needed personal protective equipment for our first responders and health care workers.

“An unprecedented crisis requires an unprecedented response. Social distancing measures must continue for now but we need to start laying the groundwork for slowly restarting our economy when the time is right, and this bill is the first step to accomplish that. President Trump is ready to sign this bill into law. This bill is not perfect, but it will do more good than harm during this pandemic and bring much needed relief to the American people. Delaying this vote any further would only make the pain and suffering of the American people worse. Our nation has never experienced something like this before, but we are in it together. The American resolve is strong, and we will overcome this together.”

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