The Recovery Report is a weekly newsletter about America’s response to the coronavirus pandemic from Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis (SSOCC) Republicans. This is the inaugural issue. Subsequent editions will be sent on Monday mornings, beginning next week.
Coronavirus Fact of the Week:
- Our economy is rebounding adding 2.5 million jobs in May 2020 – mostly in the hospitality and leisure sectors.
- Behind that Fact: This comes after weeks of negative media coverage criticizing Republican governors in states like Florida and Georgia starting to reopen their economy. One outlet went as far as to say that Georgia was engaging in “blood sacrifice” by going into phase one so early. But the numbers now speak for themselves. America added 225,000 manufacturing jobs. 464,000 construction jobs, 1.2 MILLION leisure and hospitality jobs in a month where economists had predicted that the country would lose another 7.5 million.
Coronavirus Quote of the Week:
“We’re going to have the strongest economy in the world. We almost are there now. We had the strongest economy anywhere in the world, and now we’re going to have an economy that’s even stronger.” –
President Donald Trump, June 8, 2020
This Week's SSOCC Highlights:
EARLIER TODAY: The Select Subcommittee held a virtual briefing on “The Devastating Impact of the Coronavirus Crisis on America’s Nursing Homes.”
- Republican governors have shown the right way to protect America’s vulnerable senior population. Democrat officials — such as N.Y. Governor Andrew Cuomo — haven’t. Interestingly, the media hasn’t really picked up on this.
- While Governor Cuomo was forcing nursing homes to take in COVID-positive patients, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ensured that COVID-positive patients were not sent back to the state’s long-term care facilities, according to Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry.
- New York has 43 nursing home deaths per 1,000 nursing home residents compared to Florida at 9.07 (a 500% difference).
- In Michigan, Governor Gretchen Whitmer still hasn't rescinded an executive order mandating that nursing homes take COVID-positive patients. Whip Scalise blasted Governor Whitmer for endangering countless lives and called for the governor to testify before Congress about her refusal to rescind these dangerous orders.
Click
here or on the image above to view Ranking Member Steve Scalise's opening remarks.
Select Subcommittee Ranking Member Steve Scalise demanded that Democrat governors in states like New York, New Jersey, and Michigan be held accountable for horrific outcomes in those states' nursing homes.
Select Subcommittee member Jim Jordan blasted Democrats for hypocritically blaming Republicans for the coronavirus crisis after these same Democrats failed thousands of seniors in nursing homes across the country.
Coronavirus News of the Week:
"Here in the District of Columbia, the Mayor celebrates massive street protests. She joins them herself. But, on her command, churches and houses of worship remain shut. I believe even the largest church buildings in the District are still subject to the 10-person limit for things the Mayor deems essential. The rights of free speech, free assembly, and the free exercise of religion are all First Amendment rights. They have the same constitutional pedigree. But apparently while protests are now permissible, prayer is still too dangerous. Politicians are now picking and choosing within the First Amendment itself."
- According to records filed with the Justice Department, China Daily, a Chinese propaganda outlet controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, paid $4.6 million to The Washington Post and nearly $6 million to The Wall Street Journal since November 2016 for "advertising and printing expenses."
Republicans’ message for the real world:
- We must continue reopening. Americans must get back to work, children must resume sports, and school, while we continue to protect the most vulnerable – the elderly.
- 42 percent of the COVID-19 deaths have been in nursing homes. As we continue to fight this invisible enemy, we must place the emphasis on our most vulnerable population – our seniors.
- In contrast, we must allow children and their parents to get back to their routines. Of all the U.S. COVID-19 cases, only 1.7 percent were in children under 18.
- We must continue along the path of reopening schools so moms and dads can return to their jobs and kids can get back to doing what they’re supposed to be doing: learning and having a childhood. One recent report details how distance learning has been riddled with problems from the start and research shows that American kids have fallen months behind as a result.
The Response on Social Media:
Democrats proved once again that we can, in fact, return safely to the capitol to do the people’s business:
Select Subcommittee Ranking Member Steve Scalise stressed the importance of reopening America for America’s minority communities:
Select Subcommittee member Jim Jordan pointed out the hypocrisy of some local officials in how they treated the coronavirus lockdown and how they responded to recent riots in their communities:
Select Subcommittee member Dr. Mark Green with a simple message about the need to get America back to work: "
It is disingenuous to say you're for workers and then not reopen the economy."
Other Coronavirus Activity This week:
Tuesday, June 9, 2020
Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Environment & Climate Change
Hearing: "Pollution and Pandemics: COVID-19's Disproportionate Impact on Environmental Justice Communities"
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
Hearing: "On the Front Lines: The Impacts of COVID-19 on Transportation Workers."
Joint Economic Committee
Hearing: “Supporting Charitable Giving during the COVID-19 Crisis”
Wednesday, June 10, 2020
Committee on Oversight & Reform
Hearing: “No Worker Left Behind: Supporting Essential Workers”
Committee on Financial Services
Hearing: “The Rent Is Still Due: America's Renters, COVID-19 and an Unprecedented Eviction Crisis”
Committee on Small Business
Hearing: “The Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program: A View from Main Street”
Committee on Armed Services
Hearing: “Department of Defense COVID-19 Response to Defense Industrial Base Challenges”
Thursday, June 11, 2020
Committee on Financial Services
Hearing: “Inclusive Banking During a Pandemic: Using FedAccounts and Digital Tools to Improve Delivery of Stimulus Payments”
Committee on House Administration, Subcommittee on Elections
Hearing: “The Impact of COVID-19 on Voting Rights and Election Administration: Ensuring Safe and Fair Elections.”
Committee on House Appropriations, Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, & Related Agencies
Hearing: “Indian Health Service COVID-19 Response”
Committee on Veterans Affairs
Hearing: “Assessing VA's Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: 90 Days Later”
Friday, June 12, 2020
Committee on Science, Space, & Technology
Hearing: “The Role of AFG and SAFER Grants in COVID-19 Response”
