Press Releases

Good morning, Chairman McGovern and Ranking Member Cole, and thank you for the opportunity to testify on H.R. 1319, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

Mr. Chairman, I strongly oppose this Rule and the underlying legislation.

Our nation’s small businesses are hurting.  The challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic have continued to mount for them.  Despite these circumstances, they have tried their best to move forward, adapting to constantly changing state and federal guidelines, mandates, restrictions, and shutdowns.  They are suffering severe financial hardship, and many have been forced to permanently close their doors.  Sadly, the data shows that if they had been able to responsibly reopen, as my home state of Missouri did last May, they would have reaped extensive benefits.

Before COVID-19, small businesses were projecting confidence and creating jobs.  Pro-growth policies expanded our economy and resulted in historic levels of unemployment.  But this Administration, from its executive order eliminating the Keystone Pipeline to reestablishing old regulatory obstacles, has saddled small businesses with new burdens that will last far beyond the pandemic.    

We now find ourselves here today, considering yet another massive COVID assistance package of additional spending, even though recent data shows that as much as $1 trillion in previous coronavirus relief funding remains unspent.  Shouldn’t we first have an accurate accounting for what has and hasn’t been spent?  In fact, many of the small business programs enacted in December’s COVID relief bill have not even been activated by the agencies.  We should get the reforms and improvements in these programs implemented first.  Instead, today we are irresponsibly spending an additional $50 billion on many of the very same programs. 

I also have concerns about the current bill’s expansion of the Paycheck Protection Program beyond the original Congressional intent by removing the SBA’s important affiliation rules for nonprofits that prevent Planned Parenthood and their affiliates from receiving federal small business assistance. Our focus should be on ensuring that only true small businesses qualify for PPP loans.  And I must echo the many concerns about the controversial and rash inclusion of a federal minimum wage mandate that will simply devastate small firms.  

Alarmingly, this package also continues down the path of inviting fraud into these vital programs.  Report after report by the SBA’s Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office have cited concerns with fraud.  We should be considering responsible oversight measures that ensure only eligible small businesses receive funding while also protecting taxpayer dollars. 

And finally, I must express my utter disappointment with the process this legislation has taken.  From the House Majority’s employment of reconciliation to its absolute refusal to consider any minority ideas, discussion, or a single one of over a dozen constructive amendments we offered at markup, this process has turned our Committee’s tradition of years of bipartisan collaboration on its head.  This is a shame and a disgrace.  It is truly a sad day when the issues that should be the most bipartisan in Congress – assisting the engines and job creators of our economy – turn bitter and divisive.

So, Mr. Chairman, I strongly oppose this Rule and the underlying legislation.   Our nation’s most innovative and agile companies – small businesses – are under attack and are literally fighting for survival.  And this irresponsible legislation by edict will only add fuel to the fire.  

Thank you, and I yield back.