Today, I sent another memo to the federal legislatures, advocating for my district. The memo is below. If you would like to send a similar letter, you can find your legislatures contact information at https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative. The more they hear from their constituents, the more they will understand how important the issue is.
To: Senator Marco Rubio; Senator Rick Scott; Representative Bill Posey, District 8; Representative Stephanie Murphy, District 7; Representative Darren Soto, District 9; Representative Val Demings, District 10; and other federal representatives
From: Commissioner Emily Bonilla, Orange County, District 5
Date: April 10, 2020
Subject: Request for Support – Fourth Supplemental Package
I am the Commissioner for Orange County, Florida, District 5. I want to thank each of you for hearing my prior request by ensuring economic relief for state and local governments in the third supplemental package. As Congress considers a fourth supplemental package, I am calling on you once again, as federal representatives, and I ask that you support the following:
- Additional funding for Small Businesses: As communities continue to grapple with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), small businesses are struggling to stay afloat and support their workers, as their hours of operation have been greatly reduced or they have closed their doors entirely. The result is considerable financial strain that is set to continue into the coming months. In response, the CARES act provided funding to multiple new and existing programs to support businesses hardest hit by the economic fallout of the coronavirus. I ask that you provide additional funding to these programs to ensure all businesses are able to stay afloat during these unprecedented times. Additional funding will ensure any business owners who may not have had access to these programs, have access.
More specifically, in regards to the Payroll Protection Program, I ask that you enact legislation that will make banks more comfortable writing for applicants who aren’t their own account holders. By making access to 7(a) lenders more accessible it will ensure some smaller businesses who may not have banked with a 7(a) lender, can also apply for relief.
- Ensure Broadband is an Option for Everyone: Access to high-speed internet is a necessity for addressing and overcoming the challenges presented by the COVID-19 crisis. However, many rural and low-income communities continue to face barriers to broadband adoption. Municipal broadband can often provide an affordable, reliable option and help attract additional investment from the industry. Currently, 25 states have imposed roadblocks or outright bans on municipal investments into broadband infrastructure. I ask that in the next package please include language that would remove roadblocks such as state preemptions and allow local governments to invest in the necessary tools to tackle this crisis through municipal broadband and infrastructure. Broadband is increasingly important as families find themselves in the never-before-found situation of wide-spread home-based learning as schools are closed, it has highlighted a long-documented and persistent inequity as it relates to access to broadband. In the context of students, this is called the “homework gap.” I ask that you enact legislation that will provide funding to help build the necessary infrastructure in rural areas to give all children equal access to learning.
- Expand Criteria for 2020 recover rebates to include people 17 – 24: As currently written, the CARES act leaves out a huge chunk of people 17 – 24. There are college students between the ages of 17 – 24 who might receive less than 50% of their support from their parents, but don’t qualify for the relief check nor can their parents get the extra $500 per the current guidelines. I predict this could create hardship because this age group still needs some income for food, utilities, etc. Please ensure legislation that can capture this “missing” population, those 17-24 years old, in the next supplemental relief bill.
As you consider developing a fourth supplemental package, I hope that you will support my requests. I thank you again for your important work to help advance additional legislation that continues to address the widespread effects of COVID-19 on our nation.