U.S. Congressman Garret Graves (South Louisiana) introduced more amendments to House Democrats' budget reconciliation package than any other House Member in an effort to create accountability and improve the $1.9 trillion mega-bill – which, contrary to its title, will do little to provide COVID-19 relief. Graves' amendments would recalibrate these dollars in ways that would actually benefit those most impacted by the pandemic while ensuring the taxpayer sees a demonstrable return on investment.
"This partisan legislation disguised as COVID-19 relief is effectively a Democrat spending free-for-all. Taxpayers deserve better," said Graves. "Our amendments are designed to redirect some of this funding to impact actual priorities in Louisiana affected by or, in some cases, worsened by the pandemic."
Graves offered multiple amendments to address Louisiana-specific COVID-19 impacts:
Louisiana Flood Victims
This amendment would protect any of the funding provided to the RESTORE program from new arbitrary income criteria based on U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grants. This would help Duplication of Benefits victims and ensure that every eligible victim of the 2016 floods gets the relief they deserve and need, particularly in light of the economic hardships of the pandemic.
Disaster Assistance for Louisiana Communities
Sets aside $10 billion for communities that were covered by a major disaster declaration in 2020.
Louisiana Teachers, Firefighters, Law Enforcement and Public Servants
This amendment revises the bill to include the Social Security Fairness Act, which repeals the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset to ensure retirement fairness for affected retired public servants and their families. These consequences of these unfair penalties have been compounded in the context of COVID-19.
Louisiana's Veterans
This amendment authorizes new VA leases, including for a new outpatient clinic in Baton Rouge – enhancing care for our nation's heroes during and beyond the pandemic.
Relief for Louisiana's Energy Workers
Creates a set aside for workers in the energy sector displaced or laid off due to the pandemic or by President Biden's anti-energy Executive Orders.
Louisiana's Small Businesses
This amendment clarifies the Small Business Administration's (SBA) ability to move forward on an applicant's Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan while a previous PPP loan is under audit. Pending the result of such an audit, the Administrator may modify the repayment terms of a PPP loan.
Louisiana's Commercial Waterways
This amendment makes funds available for dredging to ensure waterways and harbors – critical components of Louisiana's economy – are accessible and efficient for commercial freight during the pandemic. A second, related amendment that Graves introduced would provide funding for the Maritime Transportation Emergency Relief Grant Program, a critical support program for our ports and maritime industries.
Louisiana's Seafood Industry
This amendment restores eligibility for USDA COVID aid for our fishing and seafood communities. The bill actually prohibits their eligibility. These workers need a lifeline as many of our seafood businesses struggle to cope with pandemic-related restaurant shutdowns and other demand disruptions.
Liability Protection for Small Businesses and other entities
Creates a federal safe harbor from liability for COVID-19 transmission to any individual, non-profit, or business acting in good faith to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Flexibility to Address Louisiana Homelessness
Provides flexibility for the unused funding previously allocated to other projects by creating a pilot program to allow States to convert unused housing vouchers in order to recapitalize these funds to fight and prevent homelessness.
Louisiana's Medical Research Facilities
Sets aside 5% of funding for grants to local public research institutions significantly impacted by coronavirus.
Long Term COVID-19 Impacts Studies
Prioritizes $1,500,000 of dollars provided to the National Science Foundation to study the long-term health effects of the coronavirus.
Flexibility for Transportation Priorities
Permits a state to use allocated transit funds for other transportation purposes under Title 23 if it provides a higher benefit to cost ratio. Louisiana could use these funds for a new I-10 bridge.
Other Graves amendments are designed to establish guardrails, limits, and accountability for such enormous spending:
Unemployment
Requires individuals to repay any federal assistance they received in excess of their pre-COVID salary. No one should earn more in unemployment than they were making at their job.
No Stimulus Checks for Inmates
Prevents inmates from receiving a stimulus check.
Addressing the National Debt
Stops funds from the bill from being released if the Congressional Budget Office determines that the policies in the bill will create an extreme tax burden on our children and grandchildren.
Hard Stop for Spending
Rescinds any unobligated funds under the bill to the Treasury if the administration determines the economy has recovered to pre-pandemic levels.
Federal Minimum Wage
Stops funds from the bill from being released if the Congressional Budget Office determines that the policies in the bill will result in the loss of at least 1.4 million American jobs. (CBO has already estimated that raising the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour would directly result in joblessness for an additional 1.4 million Americans.)
Poverty Research
Studies the impact of President Biden's anti-energy Executive Orders on the costs to provide basic heating and electricity to those in at-risk communities.
Impacts of Domestic Production of PPE
Studies the impact of President Biden's anti-energy Executive Orders on the ability of the United States to manufacture critical PPE without domestic petroleum or other fossil fuels.
###
