WASHINGTON — Congressman Tim Ryan (OH-13) voted in support of the Heroes Act and Congressman Bill Johnson (OH-6) voted against it. Friday, the House of Representatives passed the bill, 208-199, with no Republican voting yes. The Heroes Act provides additional cash assistance payments, financial aid to local communities, hazard pay for essential workers and support for testing, tracing and treatment. The bill also will support small businesses by extending the Payroll Protection Program’s forgiveness deadline from eight to 24 weeks and providing $10 billion in COVID-19 emergency grants through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. “During this unprecedented crisis, we need this legislation to stabilize our economy and keep our families and businesses solvent," Ryan said. "This bill does that by providing a second round of direct payments of up to $6,000 per household and extending the weekly $600 federal unemployment payment through January 2021." Ryan's district covers most of Mahoning County as well as Trumbull County. Johnson's district covers southern Mahoning County and all of Columbiana County. “This funding will also allow our local communities to save the jobs of first responders," Ryan said. "It will secure more funding for COVID-19 testing, tracing and treatment, which is the only way to safely open up the country and get our economy moving again. “This is much-needed legislation, and I am proud to have supported it, but I believe that another one-time check is not enough to establish an economic recovery that will ensure working-class families can pay their bills," Ryan said. "We need recurring payments until our economy recovers, and I will continue to fight to pass the Emergency Money for the People Act, which puts $2,000 directly into the hands of every qualifying American over the age of 16 until employment returns to pre-COVID-19 levels." | 
