Providing for Consideration of H.R. American Rescue Plan Act of 2021

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. CLINE. Madam Speaker, we all want to beat this virus, but you can't beat a COVID pandemic with 91 percent pork barrel spending in the bill. Only 9 percent of the funding in this bill is going to COVID programs.

$1,400 checks at what cost? $13,000 per taxpayer?

If we have any additional relief we need to pass for addressing COVID, it must be targeted, temporary, and tied to the pandemic.

What is not targeted?

$350 billion in State and local bailouts that reward States that continue to shut down their economies.

What is not temporary?

A $1.5 million bridge to Canada or $112 million for an underground subway to Silicon Valley.

What is not tied to COVID?

$86 billion to bail out the multiemployer pension plans that were poorly managed in Democrat-run States before the pandemic even started, $50 million in taxpayer dollars for abortion on demand.

This liberal wish list masquerading as COVID relief will cripple our economy, harm our ability to reopen our Nation, and burden our children and grandchildren with unsustainable levels of debt.

Madam Speaker, I strongly oppose this spending package, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source