Voting to Extend Coronavirus Resources for Small Businesses and Hospitals
Dear Friend,
This week, I returned to Washington to vote on critical emergency legislation in response to the coronavirus pandemic. I also sought to repeal some of the tax provisions in the first CARES Act that would give windfalls to millionaires and provide coronavirus-related funding to airports in an inequitable way; reminded my constituents to apply by the deadline to receive stimulus funding for their dependents; sought clarification from the Attorney General on Trump's claims of unspecified emergency powers; commemorated Holocaust Remembrance Day; recognized the 50th anniversary of Earth Day; and offered a health tip, again related to our current crisis. Keep reading and follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to see events as they happen.
Voting to Extend Coronavirus Resources for Small Businesses and Hospitals
Introducing Bill to Repeal Tax Break for Millionaires and Billionaires
Writing to Ask the FAA to Suspend Airport Payments Until an Equitable Funding Formula is Found
Sending an Urgent Message on Approaching Deadline to Apply for Payments for Dependents
Seeking Justice Department Clarification on Trump's Claim of Unspecified Emergency Powers
Commemorating Yom HaShoah
Recognizing 50th Anniversary of Earth Day and Calling for an End to Plastic Pollution
Health Tip
Quote of the Week
Voting to Extend Coronavirus Resources for Small Businesses and Hospitals
I returned to Washington this week to vote Thursday on the latest coronavirus response bill, which provides an additional $484 billion to revive the depleted Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for distressed small businesses and provides support for hospitals and coronavirus testing. Thursday's bill assures that $60 billion of the PPP funding will go to small businesses, such as those run by minorities, women and veterans, that were largely overlooked in the disbursement of the first tranche of funding under the CARES Act. I also voted to establish a Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis to ensure that the Administration spends taxpayer dollars wisely and fairly. See my release on those votes here. Before voting, I was interviewed by C-Span's Washington Journal and cut a video for social media. See those here and here.
Introducing a Bill to Repeal Tax Break for Millionaires and Billionaires
On Thursday, I joined my colleagues Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, Lloyd Doggett of Texas and Jamie Raskin of Maryland in introducing legislation to repeal Section 2304 of the CARES Act that became law last month. The section removed a limit that prevented wealthy owners of pass-through businesses from using active business losses to offset nonbusiness income in excess of $500,000, such as capital gains income. This legislation would reinstate this limit, which only applies to the narrow slice of the top 1 percent, particularly hedge funds and real estate developers like President Trump and his son-in-law. Congresswoman DeLauro and I wrote to House and Senate leaders asking for this repeal last week and again this week. Republican efforts to give tax breaks to millionaires and billionaires for losses unrelated to the current pandemic misdirect money that should be used to preserve small businesses.
Writing to Ask the FAA to Suspend Airport Payments Until an Equitable Funding Formula is Found
On Tuesday, I wrote to top Federal Aviation Administration officials asking them to suspend CARES Act payments to airports after learning that some small airports were to receive payments to support their operations for years while airports such as Memphis International were slated to receive payments supporting their operations for mere months. See my release and the letter here.
Sending an Urgent Message on Approaching Deadline to Apply for Payments for Dependents
On Tuesday, I sent an urgent email blast to constituents who receive Social Security, as well as survivor or disability benefits, and Railroad Retirement to urge them to claim their dependents by Wednesday's noon deadline in order to receive the supplemental $500 along with their original $1,200 economic stimulus payment. I also called attention to the deadline in my weekly video press conference and followed up with this release. If you want to stay informed of what I am doing, please visit my web site: Cohen.House.gov.
Seeking Justice Department Clarification on Trump's Claim of Unspecified Emergency Powers
On Friday, as Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, I sent a letter with Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler to Attorney General William Barr asking about President Trump's outrageous claim that he has "the right to do a lot of things that people don't even know about." See my press release and the letter here.
Commemorating Yom HaShoah
On Monday evening, I commemorated Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, and put out this statement: "Every year we remember the darkest days in history by thinking of those lost in the Holocaust and vowing that it will ‘never again' occur. As another Yom HaShoah begins, let us renew our enduring commitment to a pluralistic society of democratic values that stands up to intolerance and condemns demonization of the ‘other' and discrimination in all its forms."
Recognizing 50th Anniversary of Earth Day and Calling for an End to Plastic Pollution
On Wednesday, I recognized the 50th anniversary of Earth Day with tweets calling attention to high air pollution contributing to increase Covid-19 deaths. Earlier this year, I sponsored the Break Free for Plastic Pollution Act. See a release on that legislation here.
Weekly Health Tip
As the coronavirus pandemic continues, I urge my friends and constituents to follow the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and practice social distancing and avoid being in groups of more than ten; wash hands regularly; stay home as much as possible; and wear a mask when you go out. See that guidance on my Congressional web page: Cohen.House.gov. We'll get through this together.
Quote of the Week
"Nobody wants to hear this, but the truth is that we are not living in the final phase of this pandemic, but at the beginning. We are going to have to live with it for a long time." – German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday urging world leaders not to "squander what we have achieved" by loosening restrictions on public life too soon.
As always, I remain
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress