[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 63 (Tuesday, March 31, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E342]
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. ANN WAGNER

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 27, 2020

  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I care deeply about the health of our 
citizens and our economy. We are in the midst of a National Emergency 
that has taken lives, disrupted the economy, and threatened the health 
and economic security of our nation. Americans have called on Congress 
to pass legislation that provides relief, and we cannot let another day 
go by without answering that call. While this bill is not perfect, and 
I disagree with a number of specific provisions within, unprecedented 
crises demand unprecedented solutions, and I am confident the CARES Act 
as a whole will assist Missourians and Americans around the country in 
our time of need.
  COVID-19 has prevented too many Americans from working to support 
their families, and could overwhelm our heroic health care workers and 
other first responders. I have worked day and night with my colleagues 
in Congress and our state and local officials to find a way to get 
people back on their feet. Just days ago partisanship threatened to 
destroy all of that work, abandoning the people who need this 
assistance most. But I am grateful that Leader McConnell was able to 
get a historic and unanimous vote in support through the Senate, and 
that Speaker Pelosi and Senator Schumer finally realized they needed to 
put politics aside and join us in placing our countrymen and women 
above petty political fights.
  Americans are resilient and, although these are difficult times, I 
have faith we will emerge stronger as a nation, a people, and an 
economy. The CARES Act will help Missourians get back to work, keep 
businesses open, and allow our economy to rebound. This legislation 
gives financial support directly to families and workers who need it 
most and provides assistance to struggling small businesses so they can 
keep their doors open and pay their employees. If you have lost your 
job, unemployment insurance has been expanded so you can feed your 
family and keep a roof over your heads during this uncertain time, and 
this was done in a temporary fashion so we do not disincentivize people 
from working. Our health care workers and first responders who have 
worked long hours on the front lines of this crisis will receive vital 
personal protective equipment and other resources to keep up the fight. 
This is an extraordinary piece of legislation, but the work doesn't 
stop here. Congress will keep working to improve upon this legislation, 
mitigate the effects of this pandemic, and ensure the safety of the 
American people.
  I am disappointed that Democrats insisted on adding many extraneous 
provisions that are not relevant to the crisis at hand. Millions of 
dollars for forest research and other items do not belong in urgent 
coronavirus relief legislation. I am also extremely concerned they 
insisted on including over $1 billion for Amtrak and $10 billion for 
the Postal Service. We can have a reasoned debate on these items, but 
in another forum. The issue at hand is relieving our distressed 
families and small businesses, not trying to tack on political pet 
projects when so many people across America need our help. We are in a 
National Emergency and it is shameful Democrats tried to force through 
partisan issues, including aggressive union mandates and taxpayer 
funded abortion. I fought these provisions and am grateful they were 
ultimately left out of the final bill.

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