DeLauro To Work On More Coronavirus Aid As Appropriations Chair

CONNECTICUT — U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro promised to quickly work with President-elect Joe Biden on more coronavirus aid when he becomes president. DeLauro was named as chairwoman of the House Committee on Appropriations, which is responsible for funding the federal government.

One of Biden’s first moves will be to ask Congress for more coronavirus aid for vaccine production and distribution.

“It will be my goal, I have every intention of ensuring that funding will be there for that effort,” she said.

She will also push for aid to states and municipal governments.

"We need to have a strong, a robust funding for state and local government so that we are not losing police, fire, teachers and others because our communities cannot lose essential services," she said.

States around the country will get coronavirus-related aid through the recently-passed congressional relief bill.

Some aid includes $36 million for vaccine distribution costs and $205 million for coronavirus testing and contact tracing.

Connecticut should receive around $494 million for K-12 schools and $225 million for higher education from the relief bill.

Around $2 billion will go to help with Connecticut unemployment costs, including an extra $300 per week payment.

Connecticut will also get a portion of the $284 billion allocated for Paycheck Protection Program loans, DeLauro said. The program was retooled to focus on the smallest businesses, struggling nonprofits and independent restaurants.

Biden has already outlined transportation and other infrastructure improvements as a goal of his administration and DeLauro said she would join him in that venture. She also suspects there is opportunity for bipartisan support of infrastructure funding.

On Trump and new Congress

DeLauro and other members of Connecticut’s House delegation signed on to an effort to censure President Donald Trump for comments made during his phone call with the Georgia Secretary of State.

DeLauro said she believes Trump’s comments were in effect trying to get Georgia election officials to commit fraud.

“It would appear that the president doesn’t know any bounds when it comes to overturning the results of the election,” she said.