Golden Statement on Emergency Coronavirus Bill

WASHINGTON — Today, the House of Representatives considers the CARES Act, a massive emergency funding bill to provide economic relief to millions of Americans and escalate the fight against the coronavirus. Congressman Golden (ME-02) announced his support for the bipartisan legislation in a statement for the Congressional Record:

"This morning, thousands of Mainers are staying home and doing their part to bend the curve in the fight against the coronavirus. Some of them will work remotely — others are using time off. And some are watching kids that can't go to school.

"But thousands of healthcare professionals, shipbuilders, grocery store employees and many others deemed essential got up this morning and went to work. They don't have the luxury of working from home. They will do their jobs in this difficult time, despite the risks, because people depend on them. Congress shouldn't be any different.

"We're facing an emergency. Our healthcare system is strained almost beyond its capacity in places. People are dying. Elsewhere, communities are working to prevent the virus's spread and preparing for worst case scenarios. Uncertainty has people on edge.

"In order to slow the virus we've applied a tourniquet to the limb of an economy in freefall. Millions of Americans lost their jobs last week and surely millions more this week. How many more in the weeks to come?

"And yet for almost two weeks, the House has been out of town, and while everyone in Washington has known that we must act and do so quickly, the Senate negotiations over this bill were needlessly delayed by political posturing and partisanship.

"Good leaders rush toward the source of crisis. They lead from the front and share in the risk. They don't waste time blaming someone else for a developing crisis or stop to consider who will get the credit. They focus on overcoming it.

"That is what America needed from Congress over these past two weeks. That's what America needs from Congress in the next two weeks, and the two weeks after that — until America gets through this emergency. A functioning government — and a functioning democracy — is essential in America.

"The bill we are about to vote on in response to the pandemic sweeping through our nation and the growing economic crisis that follows it — nearly 900 pages long — my office received the text a little over 24 hours ago. I'll be honest, many of us are still struggling to understand some parts of this bill. It appears portions were drafted by K Street lobbyists with bailouts and loopholes you could drive a Mack truck through — many pigs have come to feed at the trough.

"Only time will tell whether this behemoth will fully deliver on its economic promises. It won't fully stop the deepening recession. Only the loosening of the tourniquet will let the blood flow back in, but that isn't yet an option.

"I will, however, support this relief act. It's not a stimulus — it's an emergency relief act. It will provide $100 billion to hospitals struggling to stay afloat and supply personal protective equipment to frontline healthcare professionals. These provisions will help protect and save lives, and I support them.

"It will also provide economic life support for those whose jobs have been sacrificed because of the actions necessary to save lives. I support those provisions, too.

"Perhaps the most promising section of the bill is the small business loan program meant to encourage business owners to maintain payroll. This has real potential to help stave off higher and higher unemployment, but only if it is implemented rapidly by the Small Business Administration. And only if the money flows to Main Street America — to the small businesses that truly need it to survive.

"Passage of this emergency bill is just the tip of the iceberg. The hard work is still ahead of us, making sure resources are delivered quickly and effectively to the people who need it most will ultimately determine whether our actions are a success or a failure.

"We shouldn't be leaving Washington before the ink dries on the paper here. We should stay to work with the administration, our colleagues across the aisle, and the Senate to see this effort through to success. We should be getting to work on the next critical need. I look forward to joining my colleagues right here in the House of Representatives to continue doing our jobs. I hope that opportunity will come sooner rather than later.

"In the meantime, I won't leave here patting myself on the back. There's too much still to be done. Tomorrow, those shipbuilders, grocery store employees, and health care professionals will get up again and go right back to work. Congress should, too."

The legislation considered by the House today includes, among other provisions:

• Direct payments of $1,200 to low- and middle-income Americans, with an additional $500 per child;
• Stronger unemployment insurance, with less waiting time, larger benefits, and expanded access;
• $350 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses who work with SBA to keep their employees on payroll;
• Disaster assistance for Maine lobstermen, fishermen, and other workers in the fishing and seafood industries;
• Over $130 billion for hospitals, health systems, and health research, including funding for personal protective equipment for frontline healthcare professionals;
• $150 billion to help state and local governments cope with the pandemic, including approximately $1.25 billion for Maine.