House Passes Measure to Provide Federal Reimbursement for COVID19

House Passes Measure to Provide More Than $1 Billion in Federal Reimbursement for COVID-19 Needs

The Bill Also Establishes Juneteenth as a State Holiday

BOSTON – This week, Representative David P. Linsky (D-Natick) joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts Legislature in passing a supplemental budget to facilitate federal CARES Act funding to reimburse communities hard-hit by COVID-19.

The bill also establishes Juneteenth Independence Day on June 19th in Massachusetts, marking the day in 1865 when the enslaved people of Galveston, Texas, learned they were free. The amendment was filed by Representative Bud Williams and was co-sponsored by 87 representatives, including Representative Linsky. The amendment passed as changed on a roll call vote, 158-0.

“I was proud to support Representative Williams and my colleagues in the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus in making Juneteenth a state holiday and I thank them for their hard work to ensure it was a priority,” said Representative Linsky. “This was an historic, but overdue moment in Massachusetts. Making Juneteenth a state holiday is incredibly important and also reminds us that we have a long way to go in ensuring our systems and policies are fair and just to all.”

H.4802 also authorizes $1.2 billion in new COVID-19 related spending and $65 million in funds that were authorized in the FY’20 budget but could not be used due to COVID-19. These funds will be used to address vital community needs such as personal protective equipment, field hospitals and contact tracing.

“I was proud to stand with my colleagues to pass this critical supplemental budget, which will help the people and communities who need it the most. These funds will help our communities prepare for the uncertain future of the COVID-19 pandemic and ensures there is funding in place to provide much needed support,” said Representative Linsky.

The spending bill includes, among other items:

• $350 Million for personal protective equipment costs across the Commonwealth;

• $139 Million for increased rate add-ons to congregate care providers;

• $94 Million for incentive pay for human service employees;

• $85 Million for field hospitals and shelters;

• $44 Million for Community Tracing Collaborative;

• $81.6 Million for child care needs during the pandemic and re-opening;

• $500,000 to create an Early Education and Care Public-Private Trust Fund to establish an infrastructure to foster public-private and philanthropic efforts in support of childcare providers.

Included in the supplemental budget the town of Sherborn received two line item extensions to ensure funding remained available for critical capital projects.

The bill now moves to the Senate for further consideration.

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