Fellow Conservative,

This has been a very sobering week for America as governments, businesses, churches, and other organizations ramped up their responses to the coronavirus.

Yesterday, President Trump spoke from the White House and announced many executive measures aimed at increasing testing and treatment as well as easing the financial burden of the coronavirus pandemic. In a show of American solidarity, he was joined by health officials and executives from major corporations who are working together to confront this national emergency.
Sadly, Speaker Pelosi tried to use this crisis as an opportunity to push through long-standing liberal policies and permanently enshrine them in law. The initial bill:
  • Did not include Hyde amendment protections, a longstanding policy that bans government dollars from being used for elective abortions.
  • Created a new federal program for emergency paid sick leave and a new mandatory funding stream for this new program.
  • Expanded federally-funded unemployment insurance.
Heritage Action opposed Pelosi’s initial bill and pushed for legislation that is focused on Americans in need, temporary to the duration of crisis, and immediately impactful. This is the appropriate response to a crisis that is not permanent in nature.
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Heritage Action fought hard for Congress to implement an “epidemic tax credit,” as proposed by The Heritage Foundation, to offset costs for businesses in the Center for Disease Control’s identified epidemic zones who give workers paid leave.

An epidemic tax credit has an immediate impact to limit the spread of the disease, help those who are economically affected, and avoid creating a new, permanent government program.
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Heritage Action was successful in our efforts to move the House bill in the right direction.

Early this morning, the House passed H.R. 6201, which contained:

  • An epidemic tax credit as proposed by The Heritage Foundation.
  • Hyde Amendment protections to prevent funding for abortion.
  • A solution-focused on Americans affected for as long as they are impacted.

Jessica Anderson commented:
Speaker Nancy Pelosi took advantage of the unfolding coronavirus health crisis to attempt to jam through legislation containing a long-standing liberal policy agenda. Republican leaders in the House stood firm and successfully coordinated with the White House to move this legislation in a direction that better meets the needs of Americans without increasing the federal government’s footprint in their lives or increasing spending permanently.

The Senate has canceled their planned recess for next week and will return to Washington to consider H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.

It is now up to Senate conservatives to capitalize on the victories won in the House and to continue to improve the bill before it is sent to the President’s desk.

Heritage Action is taking reasonable precautions to ensure the health and safety of our staff and their families. Still, we will continue in our mission to hold Congress accountable, monitoring legislation, advising lawmakers, and keeping you informed.

We urge you to follow the advice of qualified healthcare professionals. Please be safe and stay healthy.

Tim, Jessica, and the Heritage Action team

Heritage Action for America | 214 Massachusetts Avenue NE, Suite 400 | Washington, D.C. 20002

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