Providing for Consideration of Senate Amendment to H.R. United States-Mexico Economic Partnership Act; Providing for Disposition of Senate Amendment to H.R. Purple Book Continuity Act of and for Other Purposes

Floor Speech

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Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Madam Speaker, they said it couldn't be done, that Democrats and Republicans could actually come together, not only in the House, but in the Senate, too, and pass a COVID-19 emergency relief package. But, finally, after 9 months, it is about to happen. We are about to cross the finish line. This is as close to a Christmas miracle as you can find in a normally polarized Washington.

With the virus raging across the Nation, the 50-Member strong bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus put country over party and helped craft a package that will help put food on the table, distribute vaccines to our communities, save our struggling small businesses, put money in the pockets of American families, and help keep families in their homes.

This emergency relief package wouldn't have happened without the weeks of hard work from the Problem Solvers Caucus and a bipartisan group of Senators who put country ahead of party to help our families, small businesses, and communities. This was truly a model for how we should govern in Washington.

This marks a critical downpayment in our ongoing fight against COVID. If you look in New Jersey, where 1 in 500 have lost their lives, and 30 percent of small businesses are out, we clearly have more work to do.

Madam Speaker, I urge support for this bipartisan, bicameral legislation, which is a critical step forward.

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