Kevin Hern

There won't be any money for R&D if we don't tackle the real problems facing our country, and that is on mandatory spending.

We would be in deep trouble. You know, currently, the United States relies on communist China and other foreign actors who do not have our best interests in mind for too many of our goods and services.

During this pandemic it has become apparent more than ever, we must improve our domestic supply chain.

I recently introduced two pieces of legislation to bolster self-reliance on our own supply chain.

However, small businesses were able to quickly fill the gaps in supply chains pivoting from their operations to quickly produce critical medical supplies potentially saving countless lives.

However, many farmers are rising to the challenges of the moment, adjusting the way Americans now shop and eat by experimenting with direct customer sales and deliveries.

There is no question that this black swan event has sent a shock wave through the world and forcing supply chain leaders to rethink current operating models.

But now we have, in our lifetime, in our legislative lifetime, in your administrative lifetime, you have a national pandemic.

There was just this lack of communication, which is usually what destroys most relationships and everything that we do.

Could you commit to us about assembling best practices that you have learned from this that you could apply?

I always find it interesting when we complain about inefficiencies of government yet have colleagues who want to make it bigger.

It is great to see we have a hearing, and before we can have the hearing, the simplified form comes out.

I think it is important that we continue to state this, that we had a growing economy that was incredible prior to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Our spending is clearly out of hand, and uncontrollable deficits puts the liability on taxpayers and future generations to pay the bill.

Now, more than ever, we cannot turn our backs on the job we were elected to do.

This Committee needs to do its job, get to work, and set our country and future generations up for success.

I think that the House of Representatives should be essential, as well.

I also would like to acknowledge the stress that our citizens are experiencing brought on by the COVID-19 outbreak.

Congress must work to ensure that the PPP remains available to struggling businesses going forward during this crisis.

Small businesses aren't only the backbone of our economy, they are our economy's star running back.

As a small business owner, I feel it is my duty to speak up for them in D.C. as we fight to defeat this virus and provide relief for the American people.

That is why, today, I am going to vote to provide more than $300 billion in additional funding for the Paycheck Protection Program.

We need a game plan that includes more help for small businesses facing challenges now.

I am here to say thank you on behalf of the many hundreds and probably thousands of small businesses in my district that have benefited from the PPP program.

That is working. That is what government is supposed to do: help out small businesses and get out of the way.