Two Mid-State Congressmen Split Their Votes on COVID Relief

WASHINGTON, DC – Pennsylvania’s two mid-state congressmen split on their votes on a massive COVID-19 relief package approved Monday evening by the U. S. House.

The measure passed the House by a 359-53 margin, with 12th district Rep. Fred Keller voting no and 15th district Rep Glenn Thompson voting yes. The measure was later approved in the Senate on a 92-6 vote, with both Pennsylvania senators, Robert Casey and Pat Toomey voting yes.

Afterwards Rep. Keller issued this statement on his no vote:

“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. While this legislative package includes measures I have worked hard to advance, such as extending and improving the Paycheck Protection Program, it also spends well beyond our nation’s means, lacks critical protections for small businesses, healthcare providers, and educators, and continues policies that will make it harder to achieve sustained economic recovery.

“Based on conversations with small businesses and workers across Pennsylvania’s 12th District, I have advocated for an extension of the PPP and allowing businesses to deduct PPP expenses. The PPP has been a tremendous success keeping Americans employed and our small businesses operational by providing forgivable loans. These provisions will allow struggling small businesses and their workers to continue to access critical resources. Unfortunately, Speaker Pelosi and the House Democrat majority blocked efforts to pass a clean extension of the PPP more than 40 times since the program expired in August.
“For months, Speaker Pelosi passed messaging bills, using the pandemic as a political bargaining chip. COVID relief must stand on its own and be narrowly targeted to the hardest hit industries and those who need it the most. The only way we will see sustained economic recovery is by supporting relief that gets Americans back to work. Unfortunately, this bill saddles our children and grandchildren with more debt and misses the mark in ensuring targeted relief for the American people.

“This package includes an Omnibus appropriations bill, coronavirus relief, an extension of expiring tax credits, and legislation to address surprise medical billing. Each of these items is important, and Congress should deal with them individually—through regular order—so that members of Congress and the American people can review them. Unfortunately, this 5,593-page bill was released hours before the House voted on it. We are never going to change Washington, D.C. and fix our nation’s problems legislating like this.”

Rep. Thompson’s statement on his yes vote:

“Today’s legislation will provide hardworking American families and small businesses with relief going into 2021.Operation Warp Speed has delivered a modern medical marvel by developing a vaccine in under a year, and this bill will help ensure vaccines are widely available to those who need it most. It’s a shame this legislation was held up by partisan politics for so long, but I’m confident today’s relief package will help save lives, save jobs, and save our economy.”

The $900 billion measure includes the following:

• $30 billion for vaccine development and deployment.
• $285 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program, helping small businesses and independent contractors.
• $300 a week in additional unemployment insurance benefits for 10 weeks.
• $600 stimulus payments for individuals making up to $75,000; $1,200 payments for couples making up to $150,000; $600 payments for dependent children.
• $13 billion for farmers, ranchers, cattlemen and producers.
• $13 billion for additional emergency food assistance.
• $7 billion for broadband development.