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

Floor Speech

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Mr. MEUSER. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas for yielding.

Madam Speaker, over the past year, Congress has allocated nearly $4 trillion to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now Democrat leadership is following through on a campaign promise made by President Biden to spend another $2 trillion.

Madam Speaker, further assistance is appropriate for those individuals, families, and businesses who have been hit the hardest, including restaurants; but this bill fails to recognize the improving economic conditions, as well as the fact that more than $1 trillion from previous relief packages remains unspent.

Just 9 percent of this bill goes towards combating the virus, and just 1 percent is directed for vaccines. Instead, the apparent priorities for Democrat leadership include a bailout for mismanaged States, pension funds, an increase in the minimum wage, and half a billion dollars for the arts and humanities.

Madam Speaker, Congress has already provided $68 billion for our schools, more than double the CDC's highest estimate of what it would take for our schools to open safely. We should be able to unite in supporting an economic recovery, open our schools, increase testing, and ensure the efficient distribution of vaccines.

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