Officials Say COVID Relief Bill Will Help Area

With the COVID relief bill serving as the topic, reporters heard from U.S. Sen. Jon Tester and the mayors of Sidney and Great Falls during a press call on Tuesday, March 9.

The COVID relief bill feature $1.9 trillion to impact areas such as schools, unemployment aids program, help with cities and states, child tax credits and rental utility assistance. The package includes $1,400 payments for individuals earning $75,000 or less in annual income.

After being approved by the Senate, the bill was approved by the House on Wednesday, March 10.

“A lot of communities still have a lot of issues,” Tester said about the pandemic. “This is real relief.”

Sidney Mayor Rick Norby noted there’s much to appreciate in the bill for Eastern Montana.

“What I like most is getting money back into our economy and get it moving again,” Norby said. “Getting it to businesses, that’s the best thing that I like.”

Norby is also glad that funds will help schools get students back to classes throughout the state and will also assist tenants who are struggling to pay rent.

“Keeping people in their homes is a major part out here. We have a lot of people, with the oil impacts that we do have, that rent. Being able to help them stay in their apartments and things like that, I do like what I see here,” Norby said. He is currently the president of the League of Cities and Towns.

Tester explained the act features many benefits for small businesses including grants for local restaurants. The Democrat said the bill contains about $3 billion for entertainment and hospitality businesses.

Great Falls Mayor Bob Kelly said, “This is a direct injection into cities and towns.”

Tester stressed that there will be strict oversight over programs to guarantee that funds are going to the targeted areas.

As far as cities are concerned, Tester explained Montana’s largest cities will receive direct checks and the state will then distribute checks to other cities based on size. There will be $382 million available for Montana’s education which will be distributed by the Office of Public Instruction.

Officials agree that the quickest way for everything returning to being back to normal is through vaccinations. The bill includes $20 billion for vaccine distribution.

“Vaccination is the most important step,” Kelly said.