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Democrats Advance Bill Without Necessary Amendments to Make Aid Temporary, Targeted, & Tied to COVID
Washington, Feb 12 -
This week the Committee held a markup of the Biden “stimulus” plan. Republicans presented a clear alternative to the oversized partisan package by offering amendments to target COVID relief toward Americans most in need, ensure additional funding is temporary, and to tie money directly to the national emergency. Unfortunately, on day two, Democrats again took a largely partisan approach, rejecting all but one of the 37 total amendments offered by Republicans, proving this partisan package is the fulfillment of a campaign promise rather than an effort to support Americans in need. On day two, Democrats said no to: No to Supporting Rural America An amendment by Rep. John Rose (TN-06) to prioritize farmers for homeowner’s assistance funding. An amendment by Rep. Alex Mooney (WV-02) to direct dollars to rural communities that have higher levels of poverty and unemployment than their urban counterparts. No to Supporting Businesses in Need An amendment by Rep. Barry Loudermilk (GA-11) to allow financial technology companies to participate in the small business program. An amendment by Rep. Roger Williams (TX-25) to ensure that small businesses will not be burdened with additional labor costs as long as they are complying with the individual state’s minimum wage requirements. An amendment by Rep. John Rose (TN-06) to ensure that important transportation small businesses receive the funding they need to remain operational and preserve jobs. An amendment by Rep. Ted Budd (NC-13) to make clear that businesses can continue to operate under the Trump regulatory agenda. An amendment by Rep. Ann Wagner (MO-02) to create a set aside for women- and veteran-owned businesses. An amendment by Rep. French Hill (AR-02) to make clear that businesses involved in the Keystone Pipeline project may still get the loans and credit they need to take care of their employees. No to Tying Relief Directly to COVID An amendment by Rep. Ann Wagner (MO-02) to return any unspent funds to the general fund six months after the end of the national emergency. An amendment by Rep. Roger Williams (TX-25) to direct dollars to students affected by the pandemic to pay for student loans. No to Targeting Relief to Those Most in Need An amendment by Rep. Barry Loudermilk (GA-11) to require that dollars in the new homeowner assistant fund reach the homeowners that are most in need, based on unemployment, risk of housing instability, and low income. An amendment by Rep. Steve Stivers (OH-15) to prioritize funds for cities that have actually been able to reduce homelessness over the past five years. No to Commonsense Guardrails An amendment by Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-03) to prevent the Democrats from using funds to restrict access to a program based on a borrower’s loan profile, including business with firearm retailers or keystone pipeline ties. An amendment by Rep. Bill Huizenga (MI-02) to provide additional oversight of localities that have committed fraud or committed fair housing law violations in the last five years such as Los Angeles and New York. An amendment by Rep. William Timmons (SC-04) to put guardrails in place by ensuring information submitted for rental/homeowner assistance in the bill is accurate, and makes sure no individual is punished for an inadvertent mistake made by someone else or due to a language barrier. An amendment by Rep. Bryan Steil (WI-01) to ensure that no funds may be used to force a public company to make disclosures related to social issues that just add to a business’ compliance costs and fail to better inform investors. No to Securing our Nation’s Long-Term Success An amendment by Rep. Bryan Steil (WI-01) to ensure that funds cannot be spent on any regulations that would put U.S. businesses at a disadvantage to our global competitors. An amendment by Rep. French Hill (AR-02) to prioritize unused funds appropriated under the Defense Production Act for rebuilding the Strategic National Stockpile, improving the United States’ supply chain resilience for medical supplies, and supporting the distribution of vaccines to poor countries. No to the Right to Free Speech An amendment by Rep. Patrick McHenry (NC-10) to withhold COVID aid to companies that discriminate against, harass, or fire their employees for speaking out against human rights atrocities committed by the Chinese Communist Party, or against the BDS movement. Democrats joined Republicans in supporting Rep. Bill Huizenga’s (MI-02) amendment to target support toward the smallest of businesses, with a focus on those with fewer than 10 employees, including independent contractors, sole proprietors, and gig workers. To learn more about the first day of the Biden Plan markup, click HERE. ###