On the recordJune 29, 2020
I thank my colleague from Michigan for yielding. I rise today in opposition to the act. The coronavirus pandemic has affected every community in our country. As this disease hit our shores, our economy has contracted dramatically. Businesses were forced to close; workers have been sidelined; and Americans are staying home. While we recognize the public health benefits of this strategy, the serious economic harm is very hard to ignore. Families are still worried about making ends meet, even as States have begun to reopen. With that in mind, I understand my colleagues' desire to do something to keep affected families in their homes. I remain committed to just that, helping families who are directly impacted by the coronavirus to stay in their homes and to stay in their apartments. But this bill fails on multiple fronts. At a time when our national deficits are rising, and our national debt now exceeds $26 trillion, my colleagues are proposing more than $194 billion in new spending. More than half of that, $119 billion, is earmarked for HUD, the Housing and Urban Development Department. This would triple HUD's 2020 budget. Importantly, it does it without implementing meaningful reforms to ensure accountability and transparency. The new spending comes on top of trillions of dollars in relief already provided in the form of expanded unemployment benefits and other types of economic relief.…
