[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 77 (Thursday, April 23, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E390]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. KENNY MARCHANT

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 23, 2020

  Mr. MARCHANT. Madam Speaker, after consulting with physicians about 
traveling during the COVID-19 pandemic, I was not able to make it to 
Washington for this vote, but I would have voted YES on the Senate 
Amendment to H.R. 266. Our local small businesses are facing 
unprecedented circumstances due to the COVID-19 crisis, with many 
struggling to keep all of their employees on payroll. The Paycheck 
Protection Program (PPP) was a solution passed unanimously by the House 
just a few weeks ago, providing loans that keep Americans employed 
across the country. It was no surprise that demand for these loans was 
high, but it was a surprise to see members of Congress hold up more 
funding for the PPP over partisan political demands. I am glad to see 
my colleagues on the other side of the aisle finally bring up this 
vital bill for a vote today to provide the relief that so many 
businesses and workers need. Estimates already predict that this 
additional funding will keep over 103,000 workers on payroll.
  Unfortunately, the Speaker's push for the creation of a new select 
committee to conduct oversight of the response to COVID-19 is another 
attempt to use taxpayer dollars to fulfill partisan goals. There are 
already eight different mechanisms in place for the House to exercise 
oversight over the response to this virus, making this new one 
completely redundant. It is clear that this committee is intended to 
score political points against the President rather than improve our 
pandemic response. If that is the goal, it should be funded by their 
campaigns, not by American taxpayers. That is why I would have voted NO 
on the Resolution Establishing a Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus 
Crisis.

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