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Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2021

Floor Speech

Date: Feb. 3, 2021
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Government Budget and Spending

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Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, what I am going to say is for the American people because, for the past year, American people's lives and livelihoods have been turned upside down because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whether contracting the virus, losing their jobs, working on the front lines, at the risk of eviction or struggling to keep their businesses open, many of my constituents--Republican constituents, Democrat constituents--have been forced to make unimaginable decisions and sacrifices.

In response, Congress passed the strong bipartisan CARES Act. However, 10 months later, the virus is still wreaking havoc on our way of life, in large part due to the failures of the prior administration.

So we are here to right the wrongs, and under the leadership of Speaker Pelosi and the Biden-Harris administration, we are doing just that. We must meet the moment and bookend this pandemic with a big, bold package to ensure workers, families, and small businesses have the support and resources to break through the dark winter and start the process to build back better.

Think about this, Mr. Speaker: The budget reconciliation will pave the way to doing just that.

Who is against extending emergency unemployment? Who is against providing another round of direct stimulus? Who is against offering rental assistance to ensure that no family is forced to live on the streets? Who is against instituting a quicker rollout and production of vaccines after the disastrous rollout, or lack thereof, by the previous administration? Who is against expanding funds for child care and increasing the child tax credit? Who is against giving aid to the very States that we represent and localities?

So I say to my colleagues: Think about what your constituents have called for. Think about what they are losing, and let's give our constituents hope. Let's join together to meet the moment; not for us, but for the American people, for the economy, and for the future.

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