Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019

Floor Speech

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Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, small businesses in my district are desperate for assistance, but stymied by a lack of funding and unfair treatment by the big banks and the SBA.

I support this legislation, because it is absolutely imperative that we get small businesses a new round of funding and support.

I am also pleased this bill provides significant funding for hospitals and for expanded testing without which we cannot safely reopen the businesses and other establishments we are trying to save.

I am disappointed that despite the best efforts of my Democratic colleagues, the bill does not give State and local governments the funding and flexibility they desperately need.

We must provide for these and other unmet needs in the next bill. But right now, the funds in this bill are desperately needed, and we must vote yes.

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Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, in the last few weeks, my office has been flooded with calls from small business owners desperate for assistance but stymied by the slow response, unfair treatment, and limited funds of the small business programs set up by the CARES Act. I support this legislation because it is absolutely imperative that we recapitalize and improve PPP and EIDL to get small businesses the resources and support they need as fairly and efficiently as possible. I am also pleased this bill provides significant funding for hospitals and expanded testing, without which we cannot safely re-open the small businesses and other establishments we are trying to save. I am, however, all too aware that this infusion of money simply will not be enough to meet demand, and many of the problems my constituents have raised with PPP and EIDL are not addressed by this legislation.

I am disappointed that, despite the best efforts of my Democratic colleagues, this bill does not give state and local governments the funding and flexibility they desperately need to support their fights against COVID-19 and fill the massive revenue gaps they are facing. New York State faces a $10 billion loss of tax revenue. While we are the epicenter of the pandemic, we're not alone in our budget shortfalls. Oklahoma faces a $415 million gap, Arizona is looking at a $1.1 billion deficit, and Maryland could face a $2.2 billion shortfall. My Republican colleagues must come to the table and support additional resources for states and cities and give states additional flexibility in how they use the funds, including replacing lost revenue.

That being said, it is absolutely necessary that we pass this bill today and provide the SBA additional resources to support small businesses and ensure they make it through this pandemic. Of course there is more we need to do. Transit systems need billions in resources to stay afloat. Cultural nonprofits need funding and flexibility to re- open their doors when this pandemic passes. Renters desperately need emergency assistance to stay in their homes even with the eviction moratorium. The U.S. Postal Service is on the brink of collapse. Families need food assistance to keep their kids healthy. Hospitals and providers desperately need PPE. Our work is not done, and we cannot stop here. But today, we must pass this bill and get this small business funding flowing again.

I appreciate the efforts to get this interim bill done as quickly as possible, and I look forward to continuing our efforts to stop this pandemic, keep our country safe, and, when public health experts agree, thoughtfully and carefully re-open our economy.

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