Senate Democrats’ COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Legislation Passes Senate
Contact Name: Marina Altschiller
Phone: (603) 271-3207
CONCORD – Today, the Senate passed SB 132, a piece of omnibus legislation relative to COVID-19, in a vote of 24-0. SB 132 includes language establishing a COVID-19 micro enterprise relief fund, requiring a COVID-19 needs assessment of nursing homes and long-term care facilities, and support for New Hampshire's live performance industry, a sector particularly hard hit by the pandemic.
After the hearing, prime sponsor Senator Sue Prentiss (D-West Lebanon), section II sponsor Senator Cindy Rosenwald (D-Nashua), and section III sponsor Senator Becky Whitley (D-Hopkinton) issued the following statements:
“Every day, we hear about the unprecedented impact COVID-19 has had on our small businesses,” stated Senator Sue Prentiss (D-West Lebanon). “SB 132 directs federal dollars to our microenterprises to support New Hampshire’s smallest businesses through this challenging time.”
Senator Cindy Rosenwald (D-Nashua) added “COVID-19 has affected nursing homes and veterans’ homes in a cruel way, as we saw through the devastating loss of nearly 40 veterans, or 20% of the total residents, at the New Hampshire Veterans Home. The Protect New Hampshire Seniors and Veterans Act of 2021 provides the necessary resources to conduct a long overdue independent COVID-19 needs assessment of the Veterans Home and long-term care facilities to ensure our seniors never face a tragedy of this level again.”
Senator Becky Whitley (D-Hopkinton) concluded, “New Hampshire’s live venues were among the first businesses to close and will be among the last to reopen. The Save Our Granite Stages Act provides targeted assistance, long-term planning support, and recognizes the importance of independent live venues to New Hampshire's economy. I thank my colleagues for their support of our creative economy.”
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