Time is of the essence in getting a new COVID-19 emergency relief package to the American people, U.S. Rep. Tom Reed said Wednesday morning during a briefing with area media.

On Tuesday, The Problem Solvers Caucus — of which Reed is a co-chair — and a group of Senators announced a four-month bipartisan, bicameral COVID-19 emergency relief framework that will help American students, families, small businesses, workers, and health care providers during this crisis. The Problem Solvers Caucus, 25 Democrats and 25 Republicans, helped develop the bicameral package.

“The American people continue to suffer, not only individuals and families when it comes to their paychecks, to the loss of their jobs as we see the high unemployment numbers across the country continues,” Reed, R-Corning, said. “But also you see businesses running out of the lifelines that we have put out there under the existing CARES Act legislation. It is time for Congress to do its job.”

The framework allocates $908 billion in total aid, including both new funding and the reallocation of previously appropriated CARES Act funding. The framework includes resources to the following key categories: state, local and tribal governments, $160 billion; additional unemployment insurance, $180 billion: Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) that includes restaurants, stages, and deductibility, $288 billion; education funding, $82 billion; health-care provider relief, $35 million; and funding for airlines, airports, buses, transit and Amtrak, $45 billion.

“I really do believe (this proposal) brings folks together in regard to finding a way to deliver the relief to the American people and American businesses now rather than waiting any longer in regards to delays we have seen,” Reed said.

One of the Congressman’s concerns includes the upcoming holidays. He believes if a relief package is not approved in the coming week, any further discussion may wait until February when a new president is inaugurated.

“Our top priority is getting COVID-19 behind us, getting the vaccine out there and getting this economic emergency package done so that we can start to move forward in a positive way as we have the vaccine now within our grasp and potentially being available for distribution in very short order,” he said, noting $16 billion is included in the relief package for vaccine development and distribution.

“There is a critical mass of elected officials that are listening to the American people. Now is the time for Congress to listen to that voice as a whole and deliver this much needed relief package to them before we leave here for the Christmas holiday.”