Dear team,

I just walked off the House Floor to cast the first two votes I’ve taken in more than a month. Both were important, and I wanted to tell you a bit more about what we voted on, and what’s coming next:

First , we voted to create a House Select Committee dedicated to overseeing the trillions in relief spending Congress has authorized to respond to the pandemic and the associated economic crash. The Committee will have its hands full, but it will be an important additional check to prevent waste or abuse, and to make sure that relief is going where it should, fairly and without regard to political considerations.

Already, serious questions are being raised about whether the funding allocated for PPE is getting to the hospitals and states most in need, or those whose governors are most willing to flatter the President. And press reports indicate that many large, well-connected businesses were moved to the front of the line by big banks for funding that was intended for small businesses, and the workers they employ. This select committee will get to the bottom of it.

Second , I voted to support an additional $480 billion in relief spending to supplement the two trillion that we passed in March in the CARES Act. As large as the CARES Act was, it wasn’t even close to enough, and that’s why we had to come back so soon to do more. With more than 45,000 deaths from the virus already, as well over 20 million unemployment claims filed, this crisis is devastating families all across the nation, and there’s still no end in sight.

As we have throughout this process, House Democrats have demanded a bill that focuses on Americans and small businesses, as well as putting in place what we need to control this virus. So over the objections of Mitch McConnell, we secured some important wins for the American people in this bill, including another $360 billion in emergency assistance for small businesses, with specific carve outs to make sure it gets to those who really need it. We obtained another $75 billion for hospitals and community health centers that are on the frontlines responding to this virus.

And we demanded and got $25 billion for a true national testing strategy, something that every expert agrees we must have to reopen the economy safely, but that the Administration has STILL failed to deliver.

But let’s be clear, we are going to need to do more. A lot more. In fact, I think we need to go big and embrace a payroll guarantee for all businesses, an approach used in Europe, and one that is swift, equitable and avoids layoffs across the board. By having the government guarantee 80% of a company’s payroll, large or small, Americans will get to keep their pay and their benefits, and position us better to make a strong economic comeback. It’s better for workers and the economy and is a solution as big as the problem itself. I’m cosponsoring a bill to put that system in place.

Here are some of my other key priorities for the next relief package, which we’re already working on:

*
Funding
for
state,
tribal
and
local
governments:
States
and
cities
are
bearing
the
brunt
of
responding
to
this
crisis,
and
they
can’t
go
on
without
federal
support.
With
tax
revenues
crashing
and
so
many
people
in
desperate
need
of
help,
getting
money
to
states
and
cities
across
the
country
is
just
commonsense.
If
Mitch
McConnell
wants
to
let
Kentucky
go
bankrupt,
his
voters
should
keep
that
in
mind.
But
the
states
and
cities
employ
police,
firefighters,
healthcare
workers,
teachers
and
more
—
they
all
need
our
support
right
now.
*
Protecting
our
democracy
through
vote-by-mail:
Making
sure
every
eligible
voter
can
cast
a
safe
and
secure
ballot
by
mail,
and
making
it
easy
to
do
so,
has
to
be
a
top
priority.
In
Wisconsin,
where
Republicans
fought
against
delaying
the
election
and
forced
voters
to
crowd
into
polling
places,
we’ve
already
seen
infections
as
a
result.
All
states
should
allow
no-excuse
vote-by-mail
and
a
fifteen
day
early
voting
period
to
ensure
all
voters
are
able
to
make
their
voices
heard
during
this
crisis.
No
one
should
be
forced
to
choose
their
health
or
their
vote.
*
Hazard
pay
for
frontline
workers:
Every
day,
millions
of
Americans
are
still
going
to
work,
some
in
hospitals,
others
in
grocery
stores,
or
pharmacies,
or
as
truckers,
or
much
more.
They
deserve
our
thanks,
but
they
also
deserve
to
see
their
work
and
sacrifices
recognized
and
rewarded
in
their
paychecks.
*
Health
care
for
those
who
have
lost
their
jobs
or
those
who
never
had
good
access,
food
insecurity,
additional
aid
for
small
businesses,
saving
the
post
office,
and
assistance
for
the
homeless
are
other
key
issues
that
must
be
addressed
in
the
next
bill.

If you’re with me, and believe that we must “go big” on the next relief bill, add your name to call on Congress to pass additional emergency legislation to help guarantee payroll, support workers and local governments, give hazard pay to those on the front line, and protect our democracy. [[link removed]]

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I continue to believe we’ll get through this, but it’s so vital that we listen to the experts, follow guidelines to stay safe and healthy, and help the most vulnerable among us. Thank you for doing your part.

Take care,

Adam

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