Western Massachusetts Rep. Richard Neal, a key Democratic architect of Congress' effort to relieve the pain of the pandemic on Americans, made his pitch for the next round of federal stimulus Monday alongside Republican Gov. Charlie Baker.
"The pandemic is now a year old, and a lot of people in the American family are hurting. We think that this assistance in the timeline that I've laid out is entirely reasonable," Neal, chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, said after describing the framework of the $1.9 trillion plan he and President Joe Biden are trying to push through Congress in the coming weeks.
Neal said he thinks Ways and Means will conclude work on the stimulus by Friday.
In a show of bipartisan support that clashes with the chilly reception Washington Republicans have given the bill, Baker said the millions in aid for state and local governments will help solve "substantial financial challenges" in Massachusetts and other jurisdictions.
"It would be critical from our point of view for Congress to pass significant relief swiftly to help us beat down the pandemic and. just as importantly, help get our economy back on track," Baker said.
Biden's plan, which Neal said his committee worked on to fill in the details after the president outlined the structure, would provide $1,400 in direct aid for most Americans plus funding for vaccine distribution, school reopening, business relief and more.
"This is about a pandemic. This is about stability. I often hear people say 'stimulus.' This is about stability," Neal said, adding that the legislation is "about stabilizing people that can't pay their rent, can't make their mortgage payments."
At the same press conference in the State House, Baker said the addition of a phone hotline for booking vaccination appointments has been a success.
"I would describe the performance of the hotline so far as, yeah, it's very successful. A lot of people have called it. and a lot of people got appointments as a result," Baker said.
The state's vaccination effort initially launched with only a web portal directing to vaccine providers and didn't feature a phone option, which garnered criticism from residents over 75 years old — newly eligible for vaccination but unable to navigate the booking website.
Baker also said he will move the state's vaccination plan forward when his team thinks they've "done a pretty good job" with the communities now eligible for shots, such as home care attendants and anyone over 75 years old.
"Part of the reason these communities were early was because they're vulnerable and at risk, and especially with some of the older folks, you know, we need to give them a little room here to get there," Baker said.
