Small Businesses in COVID-19 (Cong. Rec., Sept. 30, 2021)
Summary
Congressional Record, House, page H5559, September 30, 2021. Under Small Businesses in COVID-19, Stevens of Michigan speaks in support of small businesses, saying the pandemic resulted in the permanent closure of roughly 200,000 U.S. establishments above historical levels during the first year, with small companies accounting for about two-thirds or roughly 130,000 of the extra closures. Stevens cites a May 2021 Federal Reserve report that found 35 percent of service-based businesses that closed during the pandemic were still closed. Under a separate heading, Feenstra of Iowa criticizes the Biden administration on immigration enforcement, inflation and a proposed $4.3 trillion tax-and-spending package.
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“Small Businesses in COVID-19 (Cong. Rec., Sept. 30, 2021).”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2021-09-30-crec-2021-09-30-pt1-pgh5559-4014031e33/
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September 30, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H5559
Nation’s immigration laws, reimple- Today I ask my colleagues, join me That is what this week is all about,
ment successful policies from the in honoring our Hispanic-American Madam Speaker. That is what compels
Trump administration, and commit neighbors and in recognizing National me to come to work every single day,
further support for our Border Patrol Hispanic Heritage Month. and we are not going to stop until the
agents and our Customs enforcement The SPEAKER pro tempore. Mem- job is done.
officers. bers are reminded to refrain from en- f
That is why I signed on to a resolu- gaging in personalities toward the
tion calling for the President to fully President. BIDEN ADMINISTRATION FAILING
TO LEAD
enforce our immigration laws in light f
of the current surge at the border and The SPEAKER pro tempore. The
SMALL BUSINESSES IN COVID–19 Chair recognizes the gentleman from
the ongoing self-created border crisis.
Lastly, the President and his far-left The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Iowa (Mr. FEENSTRA) for 5 minutes.
Democrats are racking up debt that Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Mr. FEENSTRA. Madam Speaker, I
Americans cannot afford, exacerbating Michigan (Ms. STEVENS) for 5 minutes. rise today to discuss the President’s
the current inflationary crisis that we Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I complete and utter failure to lead our
are facing. rise today in support of the small busi- country effectively over the last 9
The proposed $4.3 trillion tax-and- ness. I rise today in support of the months.
spending spree is a continuation of the hardworking man and woman who has Despite the optimistic vision he por-
Biden administration’s reckless poli- bootstrapped an enterprise, a barber- trayed in his inaugural address, Presi-
cies that have created an unstable out- shop, a gym, a manufacturing firm dent Biden has created crisis after cri-
look for our economy, for our Nation’s that isn’t often represented by a large sis—from our economy and energy
future, and for the next generation of lobbying firm that is able to knock on independence to national and border
Americans. the doors of the Halls of Congress and security.
Not only does this package unravel demand what they need. These people Back in February my Republican col-
the progress we have made to encour- deserve to be heard. leagues and I warned Democrats’ reck-
age work and raise wages, but it in- The pandemic resulted in the perma- less spending would have a devastating
creases the national debt by up to $17 nent closure of roughly 200,000 U.S. es- inflationary effect. In fact, many ex-
trillion, putting our national security tablishments above historical levels perts at the time, including former
further at risk. during the first year alone. President Obama’s top economist,
The Speaker and the far left are wild- Individual companies, the small ones,
warned spending trillions more would
ly spending tax dollars on their social- account for about two-thirds or rough-
devalue our dollar and cause prices of
ist priorities, while increasing taxes on ly 130,000 of the extra closures. The
goods and services to increase.
small businesses, on family farms, and gym across the street from my house, Sure enough, just one month later,
by raising the corporate tax to a rate an independent enterprise run by a we learned that the Consumer Price
higher than Canada, higher than Italy, cancer survivor, closing today. The Index had its highest monthly jump in
higher than the U.K., and even higher Milford House Bar & Grill, where peo- nearly 10 years. The Producer Price
than Communist China, which we know ple celebrated anniversaries and grad- Index has also skyrocketed by 8.3 per-
will directly hurt job growth and wage uations, closed. cent, which is also a record.
We hear you. Your voice and what
growth for men and women across our While the Biden administration con-
you do and the hard work that you rep-
communities. tinues turning a blind eye to inflation,
Our economy is already running at resent matters in this body.
A May 2021 Federal Reserve report top economists are warning inflation is
the highest rate of inflation in 13 here to stay for years to come, and it
found 35 percent of service-based busi-
years. To recklessly increase our will only get worse if the Democrats
nesses that closed during the pandemic
spending is fiscally irresponsible and pass over $5 trillion in additional
were still closed. The report also esti-
downright dangerous. As Senator spending.
mated that just 3 percent are likely to
MANCHIN even said, it is truly the defi- This is a hidden tax hike on every
reopen.
nition of fiscal insanity. What does this mean? Poor neighbor- American family, on top of their his-
Madam Speaker, it is clear to me, hoods getting poorer. Less jobs. Open toric tax increases that are part of the
just as I know it is clear to my con- storefronts. A blight toward economic $4.2 trillion tax-and-spending spree
stituents, the President, time and time development. that we will be discussing over the next
again, is failing to display the leader- Absolutely this body acted when we several days. This is completely reck-
ship America needs and deserves. He needed to: PPP, $800 billion; $14 billion less for our businesses, our farmers,
must uphold the promises he made to in grants and forgivable loans at the and our families.
the American people, and I call on him, local level. In Michigan we acted Instead of reining in spending, Presi-
I ask him to put an end to the era of quickly. We have seen tough times. dent Biden and his Democrat col-
crisis that we are now under. Our manufacturers, the small ones, leagues are leaning into the economic
NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH were the first to put up their hands: crisis they have created. In fact, the
Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, How can I source the protective per- President has attempted to gaslight
today I rise in celebration of National sonal equipment? I have got it in my the American people by making the
Hispanic Heritage Month and the his- back pocket. I am ready to act. false claim that their $5.5 trillion so-
tories, cultures, and contributions of And yet we are getting whacked by a called infrastructure package will cost
Latino and Hispanic Americans chip crisis. We don’t have what we need zero dollars. Even the leftists at The
throughout the United States. to meet the demand, and people are Washington Post aren’t buying it, call-
Growing up in Sunnyside, Wash- suffering as a result. It is not just the ing the claim truly misleading.
ington, I have witnessed firsthand how billions of dollars, a loss of profit at The crisis at our southern border,
Hispanic Americans contribute to our the top. It is the jobs. It is the single which the Biden administration has
communities through entrepreneur- moms who want to get back to work. gone to great lengths to ignore, has
ship, military service, and cultural di- And yet they are at $15 an hour, and no continued raging on.
versity. They are our friends, our fam- one is watching their kid for under $16. In May I went to Texas with Con-
ily, our neighbors, and our coworkers. Here in this Congress, we have been gressman GONZALES to see the border
They are small-business owners, doc- working to reorganize the tapestry of firsthand. I received an aerial tour of
rfrederick on DSKBCBPHB2PROD with HOUSE
tors, police officers, and soldiers. this country so people can succeed, in- the Big Bend sector, a remote part of
In central Washington and across the dividual hardworking Americans can the border where apprehensions of
country, we are proud of our Hispanic succeed. drugs, weapons, and other contraband
friends and neighbors who prove that They are not following every line of are at record levels.
the American Dream is alive and well. our debate, but they are counting on Law enforcement on the ground told
Because of them, we are a stronger, us. Invest in daycare, give us paid fam- us directly that they needed more sup-
more diverse, prosperous society. ily leave, support the small business. port from the administration. Sadly,
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