[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 63 (Tuesday, March 31, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E345-E346]
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. JOHN RATCLIFFE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 27, 2020

  Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, as the American people do their part to 
stop the spread of coronavirus, they've made enormous personal 
sacrifices on behalf of the entire country's health and safety. Over 
the past few weeks, this deadly pandemic has taken over 1,000 lives in 
the United States and infected tens of thousands more, with a negative 
ripple effect plaguing nearly every family and individual to some 
degree.
  During this time, I've heard from business owners in Northeast Texas 
who are worried

[[Page E346]]

about how they'll pay their employees and the possibility of being 
forced to close up shop for good. I've heard from mothers and fathers 
who are unable to bring paychecks home to feed their children. I've 
heard from health care providers who are struggling to gain access to 
the medical equipment they need to treat the patients exposed to this 
highly infectious disease. They asked for their elected representative 
to step up to the plate and help.
  It's no secret that I don't ordinarily support sweeping legislative 
packages that cost trillions of dollars. But this pandemic presents us 
with dire and sweeping circumstances on a level I hope we'll never have 
to face again in our lifetime. Due to the gravity of situation that the 
coronavirus pandemic has placed us in, I support the Coronavirus, Aid, 
Relief, and Economic Security Act. While this bill is certainly far 
from perfect, it contains critical relief for the people I represent in 
Northeast Texas and throughout the country, which will help ensure we 
successfully defeat this invisible enemy in the days, weeks and months 
ahead.
  I'm grateful this critical legislation will finally head to President 
Trump's desk. Let's get the American people the relief they need, as we 
continue fighting this battle together.

                          ____________________