Time is short, and I have so much to tell you. Last Friday, House Democrats affirmed their agenda to eviscerate the Constitution and railroad through partisan legislation chocked full of socialist provisions that do NOTHING to combat COVID-19. Their hackneyed agenda is infuriating, but it is not surprising. Instead of completing the work of the People’s House in the open, they would rather craft partisan monstrosities behind closed doors and repress the same spirit of bipartisanship that is reflected in the CARES Act. At such a critical point in our nation’s history, it’s distressing to see that Democrats would rather appease their far-left interests than work with their colleagues across the aisle to address the priorities of the American people. You may be asking what exactly was sewn into the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act. Here’s a topline summary:
- $125M to the National Science Foundation
- $50M to the Legal Services Corporation
- $40M to the U.S. Geological Survey
- $50M to the EPA in “environmental justice grants”
- $10M to the National Endowment for the Arts
- $10M to the National Endowment for the Humanities
- $250M in spending to reintegrate ex-prisoners into society
- Anti-work provisions that hurt the economy
- Economic impact payments to illegal immigrants
- Wholesale election law changes
- Federal funding for sanctuary cities
Here’s the real kicker: within the HEROES Act, the word “cannabis” was used more than the word “jobs”. If Democrats claim that they wanted to seize this opportunity to “go big”, then why did they not devote even a shred of attention to strengthening and protecting America’s great workforce? It seems that their hankering for cannabis-related provisions left them dazed and confused as to what the priorities of the American people really are.
Read my floor remarks on Speaker Pelosi’s Socialist Wish List Act here.
Planned Parenthood & The PPP
On Tuesday, we learned of a troubling discovery: while America’s small businesses are struggling to make ends meet, 37 Planned Parenthood affiliates received over $80M in loans from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Initially, Planned Parenthood’s CEO declined to accept funding from the PPP, but now it is clear that this was a farce. These 37 affiliates not only submitted misleading documents, but they also ignored the Small Business Administration’s expressed guidelines as to who could receive funding.
What Planned Parenthood forgot is that affiliates of larger organizations with more than 500 employees are not eligible for funding from the PPP. Currently, Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) has over 600 employees. Planned Parenthood must be investigated – and held accountable – for this heinous attempt to defraud the Small Business Administration. The $80M in funding they received must be returned and reallocated to small businesses across our country who need it the most.
New Scam Update
Would you be surprised if I told you that online scammers have created another ploy to deceive and defraud Americans? As I’ve discussed in past newsletters, online shopping sites are breeding grounds for new, fraudulent schemes. This time around, scammers have started to advertise unapproved, unregulated tests for COVID-19. A quick online search for COVID-19 tests will reveal numerous companies championing products that claim to “cure” or identify if you have contracted COVID-19. The federal court has already placed an injunction on one of these companies that sold colloidal silver products as a cure for COVID-19. Additionally, the FDA sent warning letters to over 50 companies that have been selling fraudulent products online. If you come across online postings advertising “miracle products” that claim to cure COVID-19, you can report them to the FTC via their website.
Teacher In Congress
This year, my 13th annual Teacher in Congress Internship will take place July 24 – 31, 2020. The internship program will be held in my Washington, D.C. congressional office and will consist of learning activities, including an introduction to the legislative process; tours of the U.S. Capitol, Library of Congress and area museums; briefings with House committee staff; and attending hearings, mark-ups and floor debates.
Due to COVID-19 concerns, the program will be in accordance with appropriate social distancing protocols and guidelines as laid out by the Committee on House Administration and the Office of Attending Physician. For more information, click here.
Recent Events
Joined the Italian Minister of European Affairs On A Virtual Roundtable
Another busy week full of phone calls and meetings
Odin enjoying his pre-nap stretch
