[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 78 (Friday, April 24, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E394]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. GEORGE HOLDING

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 23, 2020

  Mr. HOLDING. Madam Speaker, I rise to highlight the invaluable work 
that YMCAs across the country are doing during this crisis and urge 
Congress to ensure that they are made eligible for essential federal 
assistance programs in the next coronavirus package.
  From the beginning, YMCAs across the state of North Carolina have 
been on the front lines of efforts to combat the spread of corona virus 
and care for the communities affected by it. For weeks, YMCAs have take 
the initiative on providing family care and assistance. In Garner, NC, 
for example, the Poole Family YMCA has set up day camps for the 
children of essential personnel and runs blood drives. Their work has 
played an invaluable role in ensuring health care workers can continue 
fighting and that hard-hit communities have access to basic 
necessities.
  Despite providing these essential services, YMCAs have been left out 
of the federal assistance programs they desperately need. YMCAs in 
Raleigh and in Charlotte have furloughed aver 95 percent of their 
staffs and left many on extended unpaid leave as they continue to 
operate on a deficit throughout this crisis.
  Unfortunately, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which Congress 
passed specifically to help groups like this, does not allow affiliated 
YMCAs that collectively employ over 500 people to receive funds.
  Madam Speaker, without federal assistance, YMCAs across the country 
will no longer be able to provide relief to health care workers and 
underserved communities during this emergency. I ask that Congress work 
to ensure YMCAs that provide essential community services are able to 
receive funds through the PPP regardless of affiliation size in the 
next corona virus package.

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