Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2019

Floor Speech

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Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, as the American people do their part to stop the spread of coronavirus, they've made enormous personal sacrifices on behalf of the entire country's health and safety. Over the past few weeks, this deadly pandemic has taken over 1,000 lives in the United States and infected tens of thousands more, with a negative ripple effect plaguing nearly every family and individual to some degree.

During this time, I've heard from business owners in Northeast Texas who are worried about how they'll pay their employees and the possibility of being forced to close up shop for good. I've heard from mothers and fathers who are unable to bring paychecks home to feed their children. I've heard from health care providers who are struggling to gain access to the medical equipment they need to treat the patients exposed to this highly infectious disease. They asked for their elected representative to step up to the plate and help.

It's no secret that I don't ordinarily support sweeping legislative packages that cost trillions of dollars. But this pandemic presents us with dire and sweeping circumstances on a level I hope we'll never have to face again in our lifetime. Due to the gravity of situation that the coronavirus pandemic has placed us in, I support the Coronavirus, Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. While this bill is certainly far from perfect, it contains critical relief for the people I represent in Northeast Texas and throughout the country, which will help ensure we successfully defeat this invisible enemy in the days, weeks and months ahead.

I'm grateful this critical legislation will finally head to President Trump's desk. Let's get the American people the relief they need, as we continue fighting this battle together.

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