In some six weeks of public hearings, lawmakers received demands totaling around $ 30 billion, according to Representative Dan Hunt, who chaired some of those hearings. In the 24 hours that were given to members of the House to table amendments to the $ 3.65 billion federal spending relief bill proposed by the House leadership, they proposed 1,126 amendments aimed at spend an additional $ 5.8 billion, according to the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation. Two days of debate on four “consolidated” amendments added some $ 174 million in total.

There is no doubt that this is an opportunity to alleviate some of the economic pain caused by the pandemic and to make transformational investments. For the most part, the House was right, but not quite right, leaving important matters unfinished for the Senate.

The House quite cleverly combined just over half of the federal fiscal stimulus funds with over $ 1 billion in state revenue remaining from the budget year that ended on July 1, when the tax money was pouring into state coffers far beyond expectations.

House and Senate leaders reached agreement on two important things before the House released its stimulus package on Monday. The plan allocates $ 500 million to the unemployment insurance fund, which faces a deficit of about $ 7 billion, and $ 500 million for one-time premiums of $ 500 to $ 2,000 for essential workers who showed up for work during the pandemic, primarily focused on low-income workers. (defined as those who earned up to 300 percent of the federal poverty line).

The attempt at symmetry of the legislature is clear. But as the Taxpayers Foundation pointed out in its analysis, “A higher level of state [UI] the subsidy is essential to reducing the burden on employers and sustaining our recovery.

The bounty, which Gov. Charlie Baker agreed was “conceptually” the “right thing to do,” appears to be a more equitable and targeted use of funds than the $ 900 million in excess revenue the governor had previously proposed. to return to taxpayers via a two-month extension of sales tax holiday. Scheduled to hit those essential workers early in the holiday season, it could also give retailers a boost.

The House bill also prioritizes funding for housing and environmental infrastructure – but not to the extent Baker originally proposed in his spending plan for those federal dollars – and adds money for education. and health care, including funds for hospitals and nursing facilities slammed during the pandemic.

A small but potentially significant expense – from a legislature reluctant to be transparent – is a $ 5 million credit to the state inspector general for a public website and database to track where a large one is going. part of the money and whether it reaches the communities for which it was intended. to help.

But the House has still left room for improvements by the Senate, which is expected to release its version of the bill next week. Topping the list should be Homeownership Production (under the Commonwealth Builder Program) and Rental Housing Production – each funded by the $ 100 million House, half of what Baker suggested. Nothing is more critical for the kind of transformational change needed in this incredibly tight housing market.

Small businesses, which received $ 50 million in grants in the House bill – half of which target minority-owned businesses, women and veterans – are more seeking the Senate and are likely to get.

It’s also a unique opportunity to strengthen the state’s public health infrastructure – and if this pandemic has taught civic leaders anything, it should be how critical local and regional public health efforts are. The House got off to a good start; the Senate can do better.

With Senate action expected the week of November 8 and the end of formal legislative sessions set for November 17, the really critical element is just getting it done so these funds can start to do good.

What should facilitate this process is knowing that a second installment of over $ 2 billion in federal aid remains in the state coffers – a cover for what has not been done this year. . And, if Washington pulls together, there will likely be more infrastructure money in that direction as well.

Nothing can make up for the last 18 months of pain and economic upheaval. But taking advantage of this moment and the opportunity that these federal funds offer to plan for a better and fairer future is a good way to alleviate that pain.

Editorials represent the views of the Boston Globe Editorial Board. Follow us on Twitter at @GlobeOpinion.