Mike Thompson: “I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, this isn't the bill I would have written. I am incredibly frustrated…”

“I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, this isn't the bill I would have written. I am incredibly frustrated that Senate Republicans stalled negotiations without offering any fixes to help get money into the hands of the small businesses that are hardest hit. Funding needs to get to legitimate small businesses quickly and efficiently, not to big corporations. Senate Republicans also rejected funding to help support State and local governments that are on the tip of the spear in fighting this pandemic. With your help, Madam Speaker, we did get some improvements in this bill, such as additional funding for hospitals and testing to help respond to this crisis so we can eventually reopen our country, and improvements to the PPP and the EIDL program, which were crucial. Times are uncertain and people in my district are hurting. They need relief now. I will support this bill, but I look forward to future packages to get the needed relief to our communities that need it the most.”