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

Floor Speech

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Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, more than two weeks ago, I called for more funding for the Paycheck Protection Program, which has provided more than 1.6 million loans to small businesses across the country. I strongly support rapid passage of the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act to support small businesses and our nation's health care professionals.

With this fourth Coronavirus response package, we have secured an additional $310 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program, and $60 billion for Economic Injury Disaster Loans, to help more small businesses survive and continue to pay their employees.

In order to reopen our country, more testing must be made available so Americans can safely return to their normal lives and jobs. There is a dedicated $25 billion in this legislation to prepare and ramp up necessary testing to equip state and local decision makers with critical information to reopen our communities and reignite our economy. Finally, the $75 billion in additional funds will help hospitals and health care workers on the front lines continue to take care of those that are battling this illness.

It is critical that Congress continue working in a bipartisan manner to provide aid, relief, and economic security to the nation. With this in mind, I oppose passage of a resolution to establish a select subcommittee that is duplicative, unnecessary, and most likely a politically motivated tool to attack the President during an election year. Continuing to work across the aisle to provide our country the resources it needs is the only way forward.

I remain grateful to the incredible health care professionals, first responders, and essential service employees who are working tirelessly to keep our nation healthy. I also salute Americans who are following guidelines and doing their part to flatten the curve for not only their own health but for their neighbors.

The past few weeks have seen our nation unite to fight the Coronavirus. While these times have been challenging for all, I know that we will get through this.

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