Congressional Record — Extensions of Remarks, April 7, 2020, Page E355

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A page of the Congressional Record, Extensions of Remarks, dated April 7, 2020, at page E355, continuing a Member's statement on the CARES Act. The Member, who represents Florida's second district, regrets that the bill has no carve out for rural hospitals and no relief for those without video phone capabilities for telehealth, and calls the $9.7 Billion for agriculture a good first start. The statement argues that the government has asked businesses and workers to bear the burden of shutdown and that a lifeline is fair. It also criticizes funding added at the request of Democrats for the Kennedy Center, Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the Postal Service. The end of the page carries a list of organizations.

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“Congressional Record — Extensions of Remarks, April 7, 2020, Page E355.” Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-04-07-crec-2020-04-07-pt1-pge355-7b07dd1a84/, SHA-256 129a6f567538f6fa7f9f733b83f77be78d86276e0240254689ecffb2254e75f9.

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April 7, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E355
specific carve out that acknowledges the compensation. This principle guides my sup- I am also disappointed that other special in-
unique challenges faced by our rural hospitals, port of this bill today. In essence, the govern- terest and pork provisions crept into this bill at
like the many that serve Florida’s second dis- ment has asked our nation’s businesses and the last minute. The essential pieces of this
trict. I was also disappointed that the bill does workers to shoulder the burden of economic legislation were ironed out almost a week ago,
not provide statutory relief for those who may shutdown, during good times, for the wellbeing yet Democrats held up this important bill with
not have video phone capabilities required to of the country. For that reason, it is fair and a list of demands. Fortunately, most were re-
meet reimbursement criteria for telehealth vis- just that we provide them a lifeline to help jected by negotiators from the Trump Adminis-
its. It is my understanding and hope however, them weather this storm. tration but some were included in the bill.
that the Center for Medicare and Medicaid The situation is truly dire. Many small busi- At the request of House and Senate Demo-
services will be able to provide adequate guid- nesses are weeks or days away from deplet- crats, a number of pet projects received pork
ance to allow for ‘‘audio only’’ visits. ing their cash reserves. When these small funding in this legislation. The American peo-
I believe that the $9.7 Billion provided to businesses close, rarely do they reopen. Thus, ple should know that Republicans fought these
Secretary Sonny Perdue to aid our agriculture if we do not act, the economic devastation provisions. Yet, despite our best efforts to
industry is a good first start, but ultimately caused by extreme social distancing could keep them out, funding for the Kennedy Cen-
more resources will need to be made available plague communities for years. ter, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Am-
in the near future. Recent volatility in the glob- Yesterday, I spoke to many small busi- trak, and the Postal Service was included,
al trade markets and natural disasters, com- nesses in my district on a call. I was struck among others. Additionally, at a time when
bined with an already weakened Agriculture when one asked me to give them hope. To employers are cutting back, new funds for
economy mean our producers need help now the American people who are watching, there Congressional staff and expenses were also
more than ever. It is my hope that we can pro- is hope, and the help you need is on the way. added. This is disgraceful. Had the Speaker
vide additional relief to our farmers, ranchers, To small business owners, I say there is no allowed an up or down vote on including these
and foresters suffering from this crisis soon. more important provision in this bill than the funds, they would have been stripped from the
Finally, in an effort to protect the safety of Paycheck Protection Program. Through this bill with bipartisan support. Yet, Washington
this legislative body, this bill was largely nego- program or nation’s small businesses and as usual has resulted in their inclusion. The
tiated by a few individuals within our leader- 501(c)(3) nonprofits will be able to obtain a American people have a right to be angry
ship and the Administration. Their work, espe- new 100 percent federally backed loan at an about this pork. I hope there is bipartisan sup-
cially given the fact that they willingly put their attractive interest rate. These loans will feature port to rescind it in the coming days.
own health at risk, is commendable. However, an automatic deferral for 6 months. The provision of the bill designed to help
this came at the cost of a lack of input from Most importantly, if the small business or mid-sized companies also contains several
the vast majority of our constituents and led to non-profit uses their Paycheck Protection Pro- lines that—while they may seem innocuous—
the inclusion of funding priorities that should gram loan to cover their payroll, rent, mort- are special interest gifts to big labor. Specifi-
have been debated over the course of the reg- gage interest, or utilities during an eight-week cally, the bill requires that employers maintain
ular appropriations process. Programs like the period, the loan will be forgiven. The only re- existing collective bargaining agreements al-
National Endowment for the Arts, Corporation quirement for this forgiveness is for employers ready in place and requires neutrality in any
for Public Broadcasting, Institute of Museum to maintain their payroll or hire their workers attempt to unionize. Changing times call for
and Library Services, and the Kennedy Center back. Thus, we have effectively said to these changing agreements between management
total hundreds of millions of dollars in this bill. hurting small businesses, don’t close your and labor. By locking existing collective bar-
We must ensure that any future relief package doors and keep your employees. And, if you gaining agreements in place, we put the
is entirely focused on the Coronavirus relief, do those things, which are necessary for us to thumb on the scale of labor to the detriment
and that vital resources are directed in the exit the crisis quickly and effectively, we will of the health of the business. More fundamen-
most effective way possible. give you a grant. tally, ‘‘neutrality’’ in organizing means allowing
Congress specifically wrote this program to the union to talk to a business’s employees
f
utilize the existing SBA 7(a) loan program. Un- without the employer being able to present the
MIDDLE CLASS HEALTH BENEFITS like SBA disaster loans, these loans are gen- other side of what unionization could mean to
TAX REPEAL ACT OF 2019 erated by private banks, credit unions, and the employer. This is fundamentally unfair to
other lending institutions. We did this purpose- employers and employees.
SPEECH OF fully. We don’t want bureaucrats at the SBA These provisions will undoubtedly make cer-
HON. BRADLEY BYRNE holding things up. We want the banks and tain industries and certain companies less like-
OF ALABAMA credit unions you trust to get the money out to ly to apply for the assistance they need to
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES you as quickly as possible. maintain their workforce. It will also provide an
For our nation’s workers who are struggling, unfair advantage to companies already union-
Friday, March 27, 2020 we have provided enhanced unemployment ized over those who are not and to areas of
Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to benefits for those who have lost their job be- the country that have a heavy union presence.
speak in support of the CARES Act. The situa- cause of the coronavirus through no fault of Union membership is declining nationwide. We
tion on the ground demands action, which we their own. I strongly support this aid to help don’t need a union bailout in a bill to help with
must provide today. the millions who have been laid off and fur- the coronavirus recovery.
Last week, 3.3 million Americans filed for loughed get through this difficult time. Finally, I note the enormous price tag of this
unemployment. Small businesses around this Unfortunately, it is my fear that in our haste bill. We should all pause to think about over
country are shuttering. Millions of Americans to help, we may have done real economic $2 trillion—the largest appropriations bill in the
and their children are at home practicing so- harm. Almost everyone supports enhanced history of the Congress—being rung up on our
cial distancing, a term that few knew 2 weeks unemployment benefits for those who have nation’s credit card with little warning. I do not
ago. Countless others are on the front lines in lost their job due to COVID–19, but by having question the need for such a major economic
our hospitals, doctors’ offices, and pharmacies a flat $600 benefit for many workers on top of rescue package but we cannot continue to
or simply checking us out at the grocery store. their normal state benefit, we will put some borrow in good times with the idea that we will
The American people need our help. workers in a better position to not work than simply borrow even more in the bad. America
No region or section of the economy has they would have been had they not been laid must have a serious conversation about how
been spared by this pandemic but South Ala- off due to the pandemic. This could lead to much government we are willing to pay for.
bama, which I represent, has been particularly employers increasing layoffs and could cause This crisis should show us that the inter-
hit hard. Millions of Americans come here employees to fail to seek to work once the cri- national order for things that we have de-
every year to enjoy the weather, the beaches, sis is abated. Not only is this a recipe for a pended on for decades is not more than a cri-
and our southern way of life during the March government financed work disincentive, but sis away from a collapse. Today it is a med-
and April Spring Break seasons. This all the loss of these workers from the economy ical supply collapse. Tomorrow it may be our

dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with REMARKS
changed overnight. Countless small business could strain our recovery. Basic economics debt. No party is without blame for our debt
owners have lost one of their busiest times of should dictate to all of us that we should never situation. Many things must change in the
the year, and thousands of hard-working Ala- make the cost of not working better than the aftermath of this crisis, and we must ensure
bamians have been let go from their job cost of working. For that reason, I am deeply that our lack of fiscal responsibility is one of
through no fault of their own. disappointed that the Democrats in the House them.
The Constitution states that private property and the Senate refused to provide for a simple Mr. Speaker, the bottom line is there are
shall not be taken for public use without just fix to cure this issue. many things in this bill I do not like. There are

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E356 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks April 7, 2020
portions that I think are a mistake. But, Mr. Please join me in gratitude for Fred’s life City Transportation Officials (NACTO), Envi-
Speaker, this is our time for action. The good and in praying for Sue, his wife of 62 years, ronmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC),
in here outweighs the bad. Do not hold this bill and for the entire Starr family. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.
up. We owe it to the citizens of this great f The Improving Access to Jobs Act will re-
country who are struggling. We owe action for connect our communities, enabling people to
them today. INTRODUCTION OF THE take shorter, more convenient trips, reducing
f
IMPROVING ACCESS TO JOBS ACT congestion and emissions, and improving ac-
cess to jobs for all.
HONORING THE LIFE OF FRED HON. JESÚS G. ‘‘CHUY’’ GARCÍA
STARR I urge this body to swiftly pass this legisla-
OF ILLINOIS tion.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
HON. TED BUDD f
OF NORTH CAROLINA Tuesday, April 7, 2020
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Mr. GARCÍA of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I THANK YOU TO WASHINGTON
Tuesday, April 7, 2020 rise to introduce the Improving Access to Jobs STATE’S FIRST RESPONDERS
Mr. BUDD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to Act along with my colleagues Congresswoman
AYANNA PRESSLEY and Congressman MARK
honor the life of Fred Starr of Greensboro,
TAKANO.
HON. RICK LARSEN
North Carolina. OF WASHINGTON
Fred was born on December 11, 1932 in Americans are stuck in congestion, on
Springfield, Massachusetts. He graduated crumbling roadways and transit systems, and IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
from Trinity College in 1955 and went on to are too often forced to travel further and fur- Tuesday, April 7, 2020
serve his country in the U.S. Army for two ther for jobs because our system fails to pro-
vide safe and convenient choices other than a Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Madam Speak-
years. After more than a decade in sales and
car trip. er, I rise today to thank the 3,360 emergency
management positions, Fred eventually found
The Improving Access to Jobs Act requires medical technicians and paramedics, 7,190
his way to Thomasville Furniture Industries.
that ‘safe and convenient access to employ- firefighters, and 9,670 police and sheriffs pa-
He started there in 1974 and rose up the
ment’ is an added condition for States’ min- trol officers who are on the front lines in the
ranks to become President and CEO by 1982.
imum standards for public roads—for both fight against the COVID–19 pandemic in
He oversaw Thomasville Furniture Industries
new construction and roadway improvement Washington state.
until 1998.
Outside of being active in the furniture projects. While most workers are under stay at home
world, Fred was deeply involved with many States and metropolitan planning organiza- orders, these Washingtonians go out into the
different organizations in our community. tions will assess how the transportation sys- field, risking exposure to a contagious and
Some of the positions he held included Presi- tem connects people to jobs by auto, transit, deadly virus in order to protect the public.
dent of the Piedmont Triad Partnership, Vice bike, and pedestrian investments, and ensures The lack of personal protective equipment
Chairman of the University of North Carolina new investments do not degrade transit, bike, for public safety offers is unacceptable. I have
at Greensboro, board member of High Point and pedestrian access. spoken with first responders from my district
University, board President of the Eastern The Improving Access to Jobs Act will also who have contracted COVID–19 or been
Music Festival, and chairman of the North adjust the definition of access to incorporate a forced to self-isolate because of potential ex-
Carolina Shakespeare Festival. measurement of travel times, travel stress for posure.
When thinking of the giants in the North active travel (bike and pedestrian), and cost Madam Speaker, I rise to express my grati-
Carolina furniture industry, Fred Starr is cer- for low-income travelers. tude for first responders and call on Congress
tainly at the top of the list. He had a significant I am glad that the Improving Access to Jobs to ensure firefighters, police officers, EMTs
impact on his community and on the state of Act is endorsed by Transportation for America and paramedics have the personal protective
North Carolina. His contributions will live on (T4A), Sierra Club, National Resources De- equipment they need to do their dangerous
for years to come. fense Council (NRDC), National Association of jobs safely during the ongoing pandemic.

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