TOPLINE: Republicans and Democrats both agree on the need for targeted relief for Americans suffering from the economic and health effects of the coronavirus crisis, yet Speaker Nancy Pelosi refuses to bring serious legislation to the floor. That's why Republicans are once again taking action, through a discharge petition led by Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-Wash.), to force a vote extending the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) until the end of the year.
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As coronavirus burned through our country, President Trump worked with Congress to provide historic, targeted relief to suffering families and small businesses through the CARES Act.
The CARES Act kept small businesses and individuals afloat while our economy started down the road to a historic recovery. However, much of that assistance has ran out or application windows have expired, all while Speaker Pelosi refuses to negotiate in good faith with President Trump, House Republicans, or the Senate, on further relief.
In the wake of Senate Democrats' recent vote to block new coronavirus relief and in light of Speaker Pelosi's refusal to put serious solutions on the House floor, it is clear that Republicans and Democrats alike must take action to circumvent Speaker Pelosi's obstructionism and advance targeted relief through the House of Representatives.
That's why Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-Wash.) introduced a rule last night, providing for consideration of a bill authored by Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio) to extend the Paycheck Protection Program through the end of the year, with the intent of filing a discharge petition on September 25th.
NOTE: All Members are encouraged to cosponsor both the bill, H.R. 8265, and the rule, H. Res. 1116, until the time comes to sign the discharge petition.
Democrats, many of who are clamoring for this exact kind of targeted relief face a choice: join with Republicans in saving American small businesses from bankruptcy and closure, or join with Speaker Pelosi in cynical obstructionism that abandons American workers and families.
Background on H.R. 8265:
Authored by Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Small Business.
Frees up $138 billion in unspent Paycheck Protection Program funds, extending the program until December 31, 2020.
Allows businesses to take a second loan.
Adds size and revenue restrictions to the application process.
Click here or on the image above to read Rep. Chabot's bill
Background on the Paycheck Protection Program:
As summarized in a report by the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis Republicans, the Paycheck Protection Program was a resounding success:
Republicans in Congress and the Trump Administration designed the PPP to prioritize rapid distribution of funds to small businesses to keep employees on payroll while shutdown orders were in effect and until the economy was fully restored. The program’s focus on getting money to workers quickly saved millions of jobs and kept the economy from collapse.
Congress appropriated $659 billion for the program in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act.
This enabled the Small Business Administration (SBA) to fund more than 4.9 million PPP loans.
More than 84 percent of the country’s small businesses received funds thanks to the efforts of the Small Business Administration and the Treasury Department.
Data shows the PPP supported more than 51 million jobs across the country.
By law, the PPP closed at the end of August 8, 2020, and the SBA is no longer accepting PPP applications. $138 billion of the funds allocated by Congress for the PPP went unspent. However, millions of small businesses still face dire economic straits and could benefit tremendously from an extension of this program as our economy recovers.
Background on the Discharge Petition:
Last night, Rep. Herrera Beutler (R-Wash.) introduced a rule providing for consideration of a PPP extension bill with the intent to file a discharge petition once it ripens.
The rule provides for immediate consideration of H.R. 7664 and self-executes H.R. 8265, Rep. Chabot's (R-Ohio) PPP extension bill, as a substitute amendment.
The rule is expected to ripen for discharge and signatures on September 25th.
218 signatures are needed for a discharge petition to be successful. With all 198 Republicans signing, only 20 Democrats must join Republicans in this effort to bring this bill up for a vote.
"Some Democrats have suggested passing smaller, more targeted coronavirus relief bills in the House, which many hope would stand a chance in the Senate or at least restart talks."
"'The currency of that vote is eroding,' Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.), chair of the moderate New Democrat Coalition, argued on the caucus call Thursday, according to multiple sources. 'Hoyer raises a legitimate question — whether we’re willing to adjourn in October with the understanding that help may not come... We want the American people that are hurting the most to know that we are fighting for them.'"
"Kilmer was among several centrist Democrats who voiced similar concerns about the inaction one day earlier in a call with Pelosi. Some, particularly freshmen, pressed for more votes on coronavirus legislation, such as piecemeal bills to address programs like unemployment insurance, small business assistance or stimulus checks."
"The calls for Democratic leaders to put more coronavirus bills on the floor have been growing for weeks. When the House returned in August to vote on a rescue package for the U.S. Postal Service, several Democrats urged Pelosi to couple that vote with one on broader economic recovery legislation. Pelosi and her team ultimately decided against any additional votes."
"Concerns about the inaction have only escalated since then, with party leaders making no progress in negotiations and ultimately halting talks altogether."
"Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Ky.), who chairs the House Budget Committee, said he has personally urged party leaders to take up a bill that deals with the most immediate needs, such as jobless benefits, small business loans or nutritional assistance"
"'I think most Americans right now look at it and say, these people are just pathetic.They can't come together when people are suffering and they can't come together on a reasonable package,' Yarmuth said, referring to the public perception of Washington as a whole. 'So I think showing that we're reasonable would be important. I'd like to see us do it before we break for the campaign next month.
"Pelosi’s stance is increasingly putting her at odds with moderate members in her caucus, some of whom are growing more vocal in their anger by the day and with less than two months before the election."
"A call between the centrist New Democrat Coalition and leadership grew heated Tuesday as Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) defended their posture, even as several lawmakers pleaded for them to change tacks in the coming weeks."
"'My conviction is to actually do my goddamn job and come up with a solution for the American people,' Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.), who sits in a GOP-leaning seat, said, according to two sources on the call. 'We have to bring something to the floor.'"
"The mixed messaging from the leadership wasn’t cutting it with frontliners, who have spent the last few months facing urgent demands from their constituents for some kind of congressional action to address the twin health and economic crises."
"'We can‘t wait around forever for the proposal we think is the perfect proposal and that obviously won't be helpful to anybody. Time is of the essence here,' said Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.), who flipped a GOP seat in 2018."
"But Pelosi has roundly resisted calls from some Democrats to negotiate a smaller coronavirus deal or put targeted bills on the floor addressing specific aspects of the pandemic including testing, unemployment aid and small business loans."
BOTTOM LINE: All Members of Congress should be able to agree that keeping businesses open and American workers employed takes precedent over cynical political games. That's why it's incumbent upon Democrats to abandon Speaker Pelosi's policy of obstructionism and join Republicans in a bipartisan effort to save the manifestation of the American dream: our country's small businesses.
Click here or on the image above to read Rep. Chabot's bill
Background on the Paycheck Protection Program:
BOTTOM LINE: All Members of Congress should be able to agree that keeping businesses open and American workers employed takes precedent over cynical political games. That's why it's incumbent upon Democrats to abandon Speaker Pelosi's policy of obstructionism and join Republicans in a bipartisan effort to save the manifestation of the American dream: our country's small businesses.