Congressional Record — Extensions of Remarks, March 31, 2020, Page E337
Summary
Page E337 of the Extensions of Remarks section of the Congressional Record for March 31, 2020, carrying a speech of Mr. Hice of Georgia dated Friday, March 27, 2020, under the heading Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2019. Mr. Hice says the language in the relief bill creates a disincentive for many to return to the workforce, and that Americans should go back to work as soon as it is safe. He recalls that the Families First Coronavirus Response Act was signed March 18, with $2.5 billion for testing, $2.2 billion for a federal health agency and $1 billion for state and local response.
Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used
Cite this document
“Congressional Record — Extensions of Remarks, March 31, 2020, Page E337.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-03-31-crec-2020-03-31-pt1-pge337-2-44006f74c2/
, SHA-256 1cd10a6330f017094a30fd2252e468696f33831e61301bdc39e0259e1c4de09b.Full text
March 31, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E337
EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS
MIDDLE CLASS HEALTH BENEFITS vertently incentivizing unemployment. We ease Control and $1 billion to state and local
TAX REPEAL ACT OF 2019 must strike a balance between smart health response efforts. It also jump-started public
policy and smart economic policy, and that and private efforts toward developing a vac-
SPEECH OF means Americans should be allowed to go cine (which is already being tested).
HON. JODY B. HICE back to work as soon as it’s safe to do so. Un- On March 18, the Families First Coronavirus
OF GEORGIA fortunately, the language in the bill creates a Response Act was signed into law. The bill’s
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
disincentive for many to return to the work- $2.5 billion ensured that the government
force over the next four months. would cover the cost of testing. Anyone be-
Friday, March 27, 2020 Third, it is unacceptable that Democrats coming sick themselves, or needing to care for
Mr. HICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, the Fed- have stuffed this bill with funding for agencies an infected loved one, would be entitled to
eral Government has the responsibility to help and causes completely unrelated to the paid leave. Food assistance was expanded for
individuals and businesses through this crisis coronavirus outbreak. Just to name a few, the the needy. Some federal Unemployment Insur-
because it is the government that shut down bill contains within it $1 billion for Amtrak, $37 ance requirements were also relaxed, making
the economy—not American workers. Ameri- million to the Forest Service, $25 million for it easier to apply and quicker to receive bene-
cans and their employers are not responsible the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, $75 fits.
for the economic damage being wrought by million to the National Foundation on the Arts On March 27, the Coronavirus Aid and Re-
coronavirus, and I am pleased that the and Humanities and a combined $10.8 billion lief and Economic Security (CARES) Act will
CARES Act will provide an unprecedented for several international development organi- be signed into law. This bill directed cash as-
amount of immediate relief. However, I have zations. Many of these are fine institutions that sistance to most Americans. In my district,
deep concerns about this legislation, and I will do good work for our Nation, but they have no two-thirds of my constituents are eligible for
be voting in opposition. place in an emergency package aimed at res- the full amount and 97 percent of all house-
First, there has been absolutely no discus- cuing American families and stimulating our holds in my district should be eligible for some
sion on how we will ultimately pay for the tril- economy during a time of crisis. amount. For those who may not need this
lions of dollars of new federal spending in this President Donald Trump has done an in- cash assistance for themselves, the bill also
bill. As we incur this massive debt, we should credible job leading America through this cri- authorized a $300 charitable tax deduction
be at least considering how we will one day sis. We are blessed to have his leadership, whether a taxpayer itemizes or not.
pay it. The House has failed in its duty to take and while I am unable to support this par- To help ensure workers have jobs to return
up consideration of this legislation by regular ticular legislation, I look forward to continuing to, the CARES Act provided $500 billion to the
order. There has been no due diligence to re- to support him and working with his Adminis- Treasury Stabilization Fund to make loans,
view the language in detail within our commit- tration in combatting the coronavirus. loan guarantees and other investments. To
tees, no opportunity to hear from expert wit- May God pour out his mercy and grace on benefit, borrowers must maintain employment
nesses regarding its effectiveness, and no op- our Nation during this time and heal our Land. levels as March 24, 2020 and retain 90 per-
tion for our Members to address concerns or God bless the great State of Georgia, and cent of employees. The bill also directed $349
provide thoughtful solutions through the God bless America. billion to the Small Business Administration’s
amendment process. Moreover, language f 7(a) Loan Program. These loans will be ad-
within the bill willfully shirks our oversight au- ministered through local financial institutions
thority and responsibility by waiving the open MIDDLE CLASS HEALTH BENEFITS and are available to eligible to small busi-
meetings requirement. TAX REPEAL ACT OF 2019 nesses, independent contractors, self em-
Furthermore, I fear this legislation is still just ployed individuals, nonprofits and veteran or-
SPEECH OF
the tip of the iceberg. In a short period of time, ganizations.
we have moved from a few billion in phase HON. JOHN SHIMKUS Other notable provisions of the CARES Act
one to over a hundred billion in phase two, OF ILLINOIS included $100 billion for unreimbursed
and we now are considering $2.2 trillion in IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES COVID–19 costs, $1.32 billion for community
phase three. There is already talk of a fourth health centers, $15.5 billion for the Supple-
and fifth package to allow Democrats to ad- Friday, March 27, 2020 mental Nutrition Assistance Program (known
vance many of their liberal partisan policies Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, in my congres- more commonly as food stamps), $25 million
that did not make it into this bill during a time sional career I’ve served during many chal- for long distance learning and telemedicine
when no funding that is not directly related to lenging times. Each one required Members of through USDA Rural Development, and liabil-
crisis assistance should be considered. We Congress to understand the national crisis, ap- ity protection for medical device manufactur-
must also weigh what precedents we are es- preciate the separation of powers, and know ers. The provisions in the CARES Act are
tablishing. The CARES Act brings with it a his or her district. much more extensive than my short summary,
massive expansion of the size and role of the Some events were long and protracted like and I would direct those interested in learning
Federal Government outside the scope of impeachment, but others, like 9/11 for exam- more about the bill to the Ways and Means
what our Founders intended. What we are ple, hit like a lightning strike, unpredictable, Committee website.
doing here today is unsustainable and cannot powerful and life altering. The coronavirus out- It is always fashionable to look for someone
be repeated for subsequent future emer- break is one of these events that struck out of to blame in these situations. Even within our
gencies that will undoubtedly and unfortu- the blue. legislative branch, Members have commu-
nately occur. Maximum freedom exists within Yes, it started in China. Yes, the world was nicated for or against certain aspects of the
a context of limited government, and we have slow to understand its true danger. But even response, whether for sincere policy objec-
seen on countless occasions that once the as the world scurries around in an attempt to tions or in hopes of gaining some local polit-
Federal Government institutes new programs mitigate its damage and slow its spread, the ical benefit. Make no mistake, this always hap-
or spending that it is almost impossible to re- United States is rising to the challenge with pens because it’s part of our human nature.
verse the trajectory of its new footprint on our unheard of speed—amazingly so during this The Framers understood this well, and that’s
lives. time of divided chambers and divided govern- why our bicameral legislative branch creates
Secondly, while I am supportive of providing ment. its own checks on each Chamber. The Senate
SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with REMARKS
Americans a bridge of assistance through the On March 4, the Coronavirus Preparedness remains the cooling saucer of debate, just as
coronavirus, I am concerned that this legisla- and Response Supplemental Appropriation Act Washington and Jefferson discussed more
tion will cause some to obtain significantly was signed into law. This quick response pro- than two centuries ago.
more in unemployment benefits than they vided $4 billion to increase the availability of In times like these, I’m thankful we have a
would normally earn through their jobs, inad- tests. $2.2 billion went to the Centers for Dis- constitutional republic under a federal system
∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor.
Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor.
VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:54 Apr 01, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A31MR8.001 E31MRPT1
File and source
- File
- CREC_crec-2020-03-31_crec-2020-03-31-pt1-pge337-2.pdf
- Size
- 276,489 bytes
- SHA-256
- 1cd10a6330f017094a30fd2252e468696f33831e61301bdc39e0259e1c4de09b
- Original
- www.govinfo.gov