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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E343]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
MIDDLE CLASS HEALTH BENEFITS TAX REPEAL ACT OF 2019
______
speech of
HON. ANNA G. ESHOO
of california
in the house of representatives
Friday, March 27, 2020
Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Coronavirus Aid,
Relief, and Economic Security Act.
This $2 trillion legislation--the largest aid package in American
history--is shaped to help meet the great challenges we face during
this crisis.
As Americans stay home to slow the spread of the deadly coronavirus,
the economy has ground to a halt. Nearly 3.3 million Americans filed
unemployment claims last week, an all-time record. Our frontline health
care workers are working around the clock to care for the tens of
thousands of Americans who have contracted the virus, requiring a surge
of hospital beds, masks, personal protective equipment, and ventilators
to safely care for the sick.
The Democratic House has led the way to respond to this emergency. At
the beginning of March, we passed a bipartisan $8.3 billion funding
package to strengthen our nation's public health response to the
coronavirus. A week later, we passed another bipartisan bill, the
Families First Act to provide paid sick leave and nutrition assistance
to working families, as well as free coronavirus testing to anyone who
needs it.
Today's legislation continues Congress's fast-moving bipartisan
emergency response to the pandemic. Democrats fought successfully to
flip the original Senate bill from a trickle-down, corporation-first
approach to a families and workers-first approach.
The four major pillars of the legislation are: A ``Marshall Plan''
for our Health Care System, Expanded Unemployment Benefits and Direct
Cash Assistance for Americans, Assistance for Small Businesses, Relief
for state, tribal, and local governments.
A $150 billion ``Marshall Plan'' for our health systems with funding
to hospitals and other health providers to buy protective equipment,
testing supplies, new construction, and to cover unreimbursed costs or
lost revenue. Funding is also provided to increase the supply of health
care equipment in the Strategic National Stockpile, implement the
Defense Production Act, and boost FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund.
$260 billion for unemployment insurance, providing an additional $600
weekly for every American receiving unemployment benefits. Many
Americans will also receive a one-time cash payment of up to $1,200,
and $500 per child.
A $350 billion small business rescue plan that provides loan
forgiveness grants to small businesses to keep their workers on payroll
and help to pay rent and utility bills. Coverage also goes to
independent contractors, gig workers, and nonprofits.
A $150 billion relief fund to assist state, local, and tribal
governments maintain essential public services for their residents.
Democrats also successfully prevented secret corporate bailouts.
Thanks to a strong Democratic effort, corporations that receive aid
must use it to keep workers on their payrolls. They're prohibited from
giving bonuses to executives, exercise buyback of stocks, or give
dividends to shareholders. We launched many attempts to remove the $500
billion fund under the control of the Secretary of the Treasury, but we
were unable to do so because of the support of Senator Mitch McConnell
and the White House. What we were able to secure is an Inspector
General to oversee the funds to ensure transparency and accountability,
and a Board to do so as well.
Finally, the legislation includes $100 billion in emergency
appropriations for education, childcare, housing, and homelessness, as
well as grants for states to prepare for the upcoming election in
November.
Taken together, this legislation will go a long way to help workers,
families, small businesses, state and local governments, hospitals, and
health care workers, and California will receive approximately $15
billion from the legislation.
Congress's work to respond to the pandemic is not complete, and the
House is already working on a fourth package to help our nation during
these critical times.
I ask my colleagues to join me in voting for this legislation to come
to the aid of the American people during this time of crisis. They
deserve swift action by a united Congress.
____________________
