On the recordFebruary 26, 2021
My friends on the other side of the aisle should be embarrassed. This massive, $1.9 trillion spending spree is nothing more than a fiscally irresponsible, liberal wish list. Less than 10 percent of this bill actually responds to the pandemic in the form of vaccine distribution and other public health needs. The vast majority of this funding goes to misplaced priorities, such as bailing out mismanaged State and local governments for pre-COVID liabilities, paying people to not work, expanding ObamaCare, providing stimulus checks to illegal immigrants, and allowing taxpayer funds to pay for abortion. It is true that the legislation appropriates $130 billion on top of the $110 billion already provided to schools, but it does so without any stipulation that schools actually reopen. This is despite overwhelming evidence that it is safe for our children to go back to in-person learning. And 95 percent of the money allocated to schools will not be spent until after 2022, which means this bill does almost nothing to get our kids back in the classroom. Meanwhile, approximately $1 trillion in COVID relief already appropriated by Congress remains unspent. Mr. Speaker, I am voting ``no'' for my children, I am voting ``no'' to protect taxpayers, and I encourage all of my colleagues to vote ``no.''
