WASHINGTON D.C. – On Friday, Arizona’s Congressional delegation voted along party lines on the $3 trillion coronavirus relief bill. As the most expensive piece of legislation approved in history, it narrowly passed by a 208-199 vote.
Fourteen Democrats joined Republicans in opposition to the bill. One Republican, Rep. Pete King of New York, joined the Democrats in favor of the massive bailout bill.
The bill is not expected to pass in the Senate.
The bill includes $1,200 checks to undocumented immigrants. It restores the full State and Local Tax Deduction (SALT) intended to help individuals in high-taxed blue states.
The U.S. Postal Service would receive a $25 billion bailout.
The bill, dubbed the “Heroes Act,” would allow legal marijuana businesses to access banking services and includes early voting and vote-by-mail provisions.
Tonight, the Democrat-controlled House passed a spending package worth over $3T – a socialist’s wish list!
It was filled with programs to centralize power in the federal government & expand constituencies that would be more dependent on the federal government.
I voted NO. pic.twitter.com/XkTORq3eRG
— Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) May 16, 2020
A crisis of this magnitude merits a bold response to address it.
The House took action to provide relief to our communities. It’s time for the Senate to do the same. pic.twitter.com/mOgfAl0Inf
— Raul M. Grijalva (@RepRaulGrijalva) May 16, 2020
I can’t believe Democrats just voted to give money to illegal immigrants when so many Americans are suffering! pic.twitter.com/qwwvUptKPL
— Congresswoman Debbie Lesko (@RepDLesko) May 16, 2020
I voted for the #HeroesAct to bring much-needed aid to Arizona families and workers and to provide support for state, local and Tribal governments. We can’t sit around and wait to see how much worse things can get.
— Ruben Gallego (@RepRubenGallego) May 16, 2020
Our #COVID19 response must be focused on the health & safety of our communities and incentivizing growth & employment. The #HeroesAct includes billions of dollars unrelated to this crisis and would be extremely harmful for businesses trying to regain their workforce. pic.twitter.com/BelL9rJbgm
— Rep. David Schweikert (@RepDavid) May 16, 2020
After spending the week reviewing this bill, I voted in favor of the Heroes Act to provide funding for testing & tracing ops, small biz, state, local, & tribal govts, broadband programs, & #AZ01 tribal communities facing disproportionately high numbers of COVID-19 cases. 1/2
— Rep. Tom O’Halleran (@RepOHalleran) May 16, 2020
With 33 million people out of work, many Americans are struggling to put food on the table. The #HeroesAct provides a 15% increase in SNAP benefits, and $125 million for states to meet the needs of new SNAP enrollments.
— Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (@RepKirkpatrick) May 15, 2020