CNA Staff, May 18, 2020 / 10:21 am
Bishop David O'Connell of Trenton lamented Thursday that the U.S. Congress' latest coronavirus relief bill would bar private schools' access to financial relief.
The New Jersey Catholic Conference is encouraging Catholics to ask their senators and representatives to include aid for private school families in the stimulus.
The Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (Heroes) Act, H.R. 6800, passed the House May 15, but it is not expected to pass the Senate.
The bill would provide funding for state and local governments, assistance to hospitals, direct payments to American families along with funding unemployment insurance. Moreover, it would extend unemployment benefits, expand the payroll protection program, and increase funding for food stamps. It would also set up a strategic plan for testing for the virus. The bill fails to put Hyde protections in critical spots, thereby allowing for taxpayer funding of abortions.