Congressional Record — Extensions of Remarks, March 31, 2020, Page E343 (CARES Act)
Summary
A page of the Congressional Record, Extensions of Remarks, dated March 31, 2020, at page E343, made up of Members' statements on the CARES Act. One says that nearly 3.3 million Americans filed unemployment claims the previous week, an all-time record, and that the bill puts cash in families' pockets and backs health care workers. Another recalls that the House passed a bipartisan $8.3 billion funding package early in March and then the Families First Act, and says California will receive approximately $15 billion. A speech by Mr. Crist is headed Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2019. A later passage notes $1.32 billion for Community Health Centers.
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“Congressional Record — Extensions of Remarks, March 31, 2020, Page E343 (CARES Act).”
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March 31, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E343
We are battling an unprecedented global cri- help meet the great challenges we face during as grants for states to prepare for the upcom-
sis, and it calls for an unprecedented re- this crisis. ing election in November.
sponse. While no legislation is perfect, I’m As Americans stay home to slow the spread Taken together, this legislation will go a long
glad Congress could come together to send of the deadly coronavirus, the economy has way to help workers, families, small busi-
this package to the President’s desk to quickly ground to a halt. Nearly 3.3 million Americans nesses, state and local governments, hos-
deliver the relief our country desperately filed unemployment claims last week, an all- pitals, and health care workers, and California
needs. time record. Our frontline health care workers will receive approximately $15 billion from the
The CARES Act will provide families with are working around the clock to care for the legislation.
immediate support by putting cash in their tens of thousands of Americans who have Congress’s work to respond to the pan-
pockets. It will protect Americans’ livelihoods contracted the virus, requiring a surge of hos- demic is not complete, and the House is al-
by keeping workers employed and helping pital beds, masks, personal protective equip- ready working on a fourth package to help our
businesses stay afloat to ensure American ment, and ventilators to safely care for the nation during these critical times.
workers have jobs to come back to. This pack- sick. I ask my colleagues to join me in voting for
age stands up for our heroes fighting on the The Democratic House has led the way to this legislation to come to the aid of the Amer-
frontlines by ensuring our nurses, doctors, and respond to this emergency. At the beginning ican people during this time of crisis. They de-
countless health care professionals have the of March, we passed a bipartisan $8.3 billion serve swift action by a united Congress.
resources they need to continue saving lives. funding package to strengthen our nation’s f
When faced with a challenge, America al- public health response to the coronavirus. A
ways rises to the occasion. I’m proud of the week later, we passed another bipartisan bill, MIDDLE CLASS HEALTH BENEFITS
way our country has rallied together to support the Families First Act to provide paid sick TAX REPEAL ACT OF 2019
one another in the face of this crisis, and I’m leave and nutrition assistance to working fami-
SPEECH OF
proud we can finally deliver the quick relief lies, as well as free coronavirus testing to any-
Americans have been asking for. We will beat one who needs it. HON. CHARLIE CRIST
this virus, and our nation will emerge stronger Today’s legislation continues Congress’s OF FLORIDA
than ever before. fast-moving bipartisan emergency response to IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
f the pandemic. Democrats fought successfully
Friday, March 27, 2020
to flip the original Senate bill from a trickle-
MIDDLE CLASS HEALTH BENEFITS down, corporation-first approach to a families Mr. CRIST. Mr. Speaker, I add my voice in
TAX REPEAL ACT OF 2019 and workers-first approach. support of the CARES Act.
SPEECH OF
The four major pillars of the legislation are: This sweeping, bipartisan legislation is the
A ‘‘Marshall Plan’’ for our Health Care System, work of a Congress that soberly understands
HON. SCOTT R. TIPTON Expanded Unemployment Benefits and Direct the gravity of the emergency facing our nation.
OF COLORADO Cash Assistance for Americans, Assistance for It is only because Congress has set aside par-
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Small Businesses, Relief for state, tribal, and tisanship and disagreements that I am able to
Friday, March 27, 2020 local governments. say, help, my friends, is on the way.
A $150 billion ‘‘Marshall Plan’’ for our health For the 3.3 million who filed for unemploy-
Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, through no fault
systems with funding to hospitals and other ment last week and the millions more who
of their own, hospitals, families, and busi-
health providers to buy protective equipment, have not yet been able to navigate states’
nesses are facing a public health crisis caus-
testing supplies, new construction, and to overwhelmed unemployment servers, this new
ing unprecedented hardships for millions of
cover unreimbursed costs or lost revenue. law will provide an additional $600 per week
employees and families. In the 3rd District, I
Funding is also provided to increase the sup- in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.
have heard from heartbroken families who I fought for this $15 per hour living wage to
ply of health care equipment in the Strategic
don’t know how to afford next month’s rent, give a hand to the servers, bartenders, and
National Stockpile, implement the Defense
small business owners who don’t know how other tipped employees that are the backbone
Production Act, and boost FEMA’s Disaster
they will pay their loyal employees or if they of Florida’s tourism and services sector.
Relief Fund.
will be able to hold out and reopen their doors The law provides a $1200 check to all
$260 billion for unemployment insurance,
ever again, and healthcare workers desperate Americans, including those on Social Security,
providing an additional $600 weekly for every
for more medical supplies. I applaud President who make less than $75,000.
American receiving unemployment benefits.
Trump and the Senate for focusing on the dire It includes a $100 billion ‘‘Marshall Plan’’ for
Many Americans will also receive a one-time
and urgent needs of hospitals, families, and our hospitals and public health system and
cash payment of up to $1,200, and $500 per
small businesses affected by COVID–19 and $150 billion for states and tribes.
child.
standing firm against loading this bill with rad- It provides over $350 billion for small busi-
A $350 billion small business rescue plan
ical leftist gimmicks that were included in nesses on Main Street in grants, forgivable
that provides loan forgiveness grants to small
Speaker PELOSI’s unserious legislation. I am loans, and tax credits so they can make pay-
businesses to keep their workers on payroll
obviously deeply cautious about the stag- roll and pay monthly bills to keep their busi-
and help to pay rent and utility bills. Coverage
gering cost, but the cost of inaction today nesses afloat.
also goes to independent contractors, gig
means putting a price tag on lives tomorrow. The new law provides 6 months relief for
workers, and nonprofits.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand with my federal student loan payments, blocks evic-
A $150 billion relief fund to assist state,
colleagues on both sides of the aisle and the tions for 150 days, blocks foreclosures for 60
local, and tribal governments maintain essen-
President in doing what is necessary to sup- days, and offers mortgage forbearance for up
tial public services for their residents.
port the American people and position our Democrats also successfully prevented se- to 6 months—all penalty-free. No interest,
economy to make a strong recovery once we cret corporate bailouts. Thanks to a strong fees, or negative information on your credit re-
defeat this terrible virus. Democratic effort, corporations that receive aid port.
f must use it to keep workers on their payrolls. This bill is neither perfect nor the last word.
MIDDLE CLASS HEALTH BENEFITS They’re prohibited from giving bonuses to ex- As this crisis unfolds and America rises to
TAX REPEAL ACT OF 2019 ecutives, exercise buyback of stocks, or give face unthinkable challenges, so too must their
dividends to shareholders. We launched many Representatives in Congress.
SPEECH OF attempts to remove the $500 billion fund under We need more masks, protective equip-
HON. ANNA G. ESHOO the control of the Secretary of the Treasury, ment, and ventilators. And we need testing ev-
but we were unable to do so because of the erywhere.
SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with REMARKS
OF CALIFORNIA
support of Senator MITCH MCCONNELL and the We need more help for our cities like St.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
White House. What we were able to secure is Petersburg, Clearwater, Largo, and Pinellas
Friday, March 27, 2020 an Inspector General to oversee the funds to Park.
Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support ensure transparency and accountability, and a We need to do more for essential employ-
of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Board to do so as well. ees—the grocery store checkers, truck drivers,
Security Act. Finally, the legislation includes $100 billion farmers, sanitation workers, pharmacists,
This $2 trillion legislation—the largest aid in emergency appropriations for education, cooks, home care workers, and delivery work-
package in American history—is shaped to childcare, housing, and homelessness, as well ers that are enabling the rest of us to shelter-
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E344 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks March 31, 2020
in-place and fight the spread. They deserve MIDDLE CLASS HEALTH BENEFITS vastly strengthens and makes critical reforms
more than our thanks. They deserve child TAX REPEAL ACT OF 2019 to Unemployment Insurance programs—ensur-
care, overtime, and hazard pay. ing 100 percent wage replacement for the av-
SPEECH OF
Finally, but of the highest priority, we need erage American worker struggling without a
to do all we can for doctors, nurses, and other HON. PETER A. DeFAZIO paycheck during this crisis. It also provides
frontline healthcare workers—those risking it OF OREGON federal incentives for states to eliminate wait-
all to save lives. They are the true heroes of IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ing week requirements, expands access to
this pandemic. Angels, not with wings but with part-time, self-employed, and gig economy
Friday, March 27, 2020
masks and protective gowns. You have our workers, and adds an additional 13 weeks of
Mr. DEFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I will vote in federally-funded UI benefits.
undying gratitude. support of the Senate Amendment to H.R. To support the many small businesses
Never in any of our lifetimes has America 748, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Eco- across the country that have been forced to
stared down an enemy so insidious and so nomic Security (CARES) Act. This economic shutter, the bill designates $350 billion worth
devastating. But we will answer this call of his- stimulus represents a wartime level investment of 100 percent guaranteed SBA loans, a por-
tory with courage and resolve. We must. in our nation as we continue our fight against tion of which SBA will be able to forgive.
Be safe. Stay healthy. Stay home. And God an invisible enemy: COVID–19. These loans will be up to $10 million and pro-
Public health experts agree the con- vide incentives to keep employees on the pay-
bless. We will get through this. We’re all in
sequences of the virus will only get more dev- roll and pay them at their regular salary levels.
this together.
astating in the coming days. People we know For our state, local, and tribal governments,
and love will get sick. People we know and this legislation establishes a $150 billion
f
love may die despite the heroic efforts of our Coronavirus Relief Fund so that they have
MIDDLE CLASS HEALTH BENEFITS health care workers who are on the front lines, desperately needed additional funding to build
sacrificing the health of themselves and their field hospitals, buy ventilators and other per-
TAX REPEAL ACT OF 2019
families to give their neighbors and commu- sonal protective equipment (PPE), as well as
nities a fighting chance. offset the cost of other essential government
SPEECH OF We also know that the financial fall-out from services not budgeted in the wake of the eco-
this crisis is unprecedented. On Thursday, the nomic downturn. While this fund is a good
HON. NORMA J. TORRES Department of Labor announced that nearly start, we must do more to ensure our local-
OF CALIFORNIA
3.3 million people lost their job the prior week, ities, especially those in rural areas, have
an unfortunate record number of claims. what they need in this fight.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Through no fault of their own, millions of It allows for the temporary suspension of ex-
Friday, March 27, 2020 Americans were sidelined by a vicious virus cise taxes on spirits for those used in the pro-
that has brought our economy to a stunning duction of hand sanitizer in compliance with
Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, I but necessary halt as we work to ‘‘flatten the guidance from the Food and Drug Administra-
rise to support the Senate Amendment to H.R. curve’’ to protect our health and safety. tion (FDA), like Swallowtail and Thinking Tree
748, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Eco- Our next steps in this battle—to both con- Spirits in my district in Oregon.
nomic Security Act. This bill will provide emer- tain the virus and prevent further layoffs—are The CARES Act provides $1 billion for the
gency relief to millions of Americans as we critical. Defense Production Act, allowing the Depart-
fight the coronavirus outbreak. And while Members of Congress can’t be ment of Defense to invest in the manufac-
the experts in the lab developing a vaccine, or turing of PPE and other critical medical equip-
I want to highlight Title VI, which establishes
flying the cargo planes with medical supplies, ment in short supply. While this isn’t the $3.5
a Coronavirus Relief Fund that provides $150
there is something we can do today: get des- billion allocated for the DPA in the House bill,
billion for the Secretary of Treasury to dis-
perately needed funding and medical supplies it is still a notable sum to ramp up production
seminate to States, Tribal Governments and
to hospitals and frontline healthcare workers, for PPE and other supplies.
units of local government in fiscal year 2020.
and provide critical relief to the millions of laid- The President should have unleased the full
Tragically, in recent days I’ve heard from
off workers and small business owners who power of the Defense Production Act (DPA)
many tribal nations in California, and they are
are hurting right now. weeks ago. He still hasn’t, and his lack of
really struggling. That’s because they did the Now, without question, the bill the Senate leadership means health care workers and
right thing to help our country combat this sent us isn’t perfect. their patients are suffering because there are
virus by closing their businesses. Remember, the Republican starting point not enough ventilators, PPE, or other medical
It is worth noting that they did so proactively was a massive corporate slush fund with no supplies. I am continuing to call on the Presi-
and were under no obligation to take such transparency, accountability, or worker protec- dent to immediately ramp up domestic produc-
drastic steps. But, as we have come to expect tions. tion of these crucial supplies.
from our leaders in the tribal community, they But we could not allow a repeat of the failed This legislation also provides much-needed
did the right thing because it was the right bailout of 2008. I’m proud to be part of the help to hospitals and healthcare providers by
thing to do. Democratic negotiating team that protected allocating $100 billion to cover unreimbursed
These closures have been nothing short of jobs because we know that putting working health care-related expenses and lost reve-
catastrophic. The very resources that had people and families first is how we as a coun- nues attributable to COVID–19. It also in-
been used to fund the tribal government and try can get back on our feet. Prioritizing their creases Medicare reimbursement for treatment
provide services virtually evaporated over- needs over the profits of giant corporations is of inpatient COVID–19 patients by 20 percent,
night. These governments run, for the most how we build an economy that works for ev- and it allocates more than $27 billion for the
part, on these tribal funds. The funds provided eryone—not just a wealthy few. Biomedical Advanced Research and Develop-
This bill will put checks in the mail to 80 ment Authority, investing billions into vaccines
by the federal government via the Indian
percent of Americans who make under six fig- and therapeutics and $16 billion into the Stra-
Health Service and the Bureau of Indian Af-
ures, and it will boost critical benefits for any- tegic National Stockpile (SNS).
fairs, and other federal programs, often only
one who lost their job amid this crisis. It mandates all private insurance plans to
make up a very small percentage of the total We fought hard so this bill will ensure mil- cover testing for COVID–19 without cost-shar-
cost of running Tribal governments. So, when lions of bus drivers, train operators, railroad ing and provides free coverage for a COVID–
these businesses closed, the Tribes knew that workers, flight crews, airline ground workers, 19 vaccine or other preventive service within
doing so would compromise their ability to airport workers, and more not only remain on 15 days. It also protects the uninsured by al-
serve their people during this time of crisis. the job but keep as many of their hard-earned lowing them to receive a coronavirus test and
SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with REMARKS
I heard these stories and knew that Con- health and retirement benefits as possible dur- related services with no cost-sharing in any
gress had to respond. This $8 billion fund will ing this crisis. The relief in this package flows state Medicaid program that elects to offer
address the decrease in revenues, and we to workers first, not last—and it makes clear to such an enrollment option.
have mandated that the Secretary of Treasury any industry getting relief: no stock buybacks, To protect and bolster our frontline health
work with the Secretary of Interior, to make no executive giveaways, no layoffs. Workers care workers, rural providers, and the health
sure that these decreased revenues are into first—period. care of those with most need, the bill invests
their determination when making funds avail- For the millions who have lost their jobs $1.32 billion in supplemental funding for Com-
able to tribes. through no fault of their own, this legislation munity Health Centers; reauthorizes Human
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