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U.S. Rep. Fred Keller, R-Kreamer, voted against the $2.3 trillion COVID relief package passed by Congress, citing its failure in targeting jobs and stimulating the economy.
Despite some reservations, U.S. Sens. Robert Casey, D-Scranton, and Pat Toomey, R-Zionsville, voted in favor of the bill.
Keller noted that while the legislative package provide for measures he supports including extending and improving the Paycheck Protection Program, it calls for spending well beyond the nation's means, lacks critical protections for businesses, healthcare providers and educators, and continues policies for allowing for easier sustained economic recovery.
"Since the start of the pandemic, I have advocated for targeted relief for American families, workers, and small businesses that is focused on getting Americans back to work. The best stimulus is a job, and Congress should advance policies that will allow our economy to recover and create family-sustaining jobs for Pennsylvanians," he said.
Casey said the legislation is a bipartisan compromise that puts money in the pockets of working families and invests vital dollars into vaccine deployment.
However, the lawmaker stressed that more must be done to address the full scope of the nation's public health and economic crisis.
"Due to the intransigence of Senate Republicans, this relief bill does not include critically-needed money to state and local governments to prevent service cuts and layoffs of firefighters, law enforcement and local health departments. It also lacks meaningful policies and investments to protect nursing home residents and workers and to allow seniors and people with disabilities to receive needed care at home," he said.
Keller blamed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats for blocking efforts to pass "a clean extension of the PPP" more than 40 times since the program expired in August.
COVID, he said, should be targeted to the hardest hit industries and those who most need it.
"This package includes an Omnibus appropriation bill, coronavirus relief, an extension of the expiring tax credits, and legislation to address surprise medical billing," Keller said.
While each of items are important, they should be considered separately by Congress so they can be reviewed by lawmakers and people, Keller explained.
"Unfortunately, this 5,593-page bill was released hours before the House voted on it," he said.
Toomey said he did not agree with everything contained within the bill, including wasteful government spending and misguided policies that will dampen economy recovery.
However, he noted the good within the bill outweighed the bad.
He stated: "I am glad that Congress is extending unemployment eligibility for the self-employed and gig workers; reauthorizing the Paycheck Protection Program to help small businesses hurt by government shutdowns; picking up virtually the entire cost of the distribution and administering of the COVID-19 vaccine to the American people; and providing substantial assistance for education so children can safely return to school.
"In this legislation, Senate Republicans also secured an unqualified victory for taxpayers with the wind down of the successful emergency lending facilities established in the CARES Act – just as Congress intended and the law requires. Without these protections, the risk for mischief with the Fed's extraordinary powers was far too real," he continued. "Concerns about possible political interference are greatly diminished since the law now redirects more than $429 billion of unused funds to offset about half of the cost of this bill and ensures these facilities cannot be restarted or replicated in the future without congressional approval."