Quigley Statement on Covid Relief and Government Funding Package

Statement

Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), Chairman of the Appropriations Committee's Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee, released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed legislation to provide relief to American families amidst the ongoing COVID-19 and economic crises:

"I'm glad that Senate Republicans finally stopped playing politics and worked with Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats to arrive at a reasonable compromise. Long-awaited relief for Americans is finally on the way. This may not be the robust package we had hoped for but it is absolutely necessary to provide aid for the American people now so that families and small businesses can keep food on their tables, employees on payrolls, and business doors open.

"While I am deeply disappointed that the final bill does not include support for struggling state and local governments, we cannot let the perfect be the enemy of the good. My constituents simply cannot afford to wait for a perfect bill and, despite its flaws there, is much in this bill to be pleased about including stimulus checks, unemployment assistance, extending the eviction moratorium, helping small business by allowing another round of Paycheck Protection Program loans, and funding for the hardest-hit industries whose doors are still closed.

"There is still more to be done. I strongly encourage President-elect Joe Biden to continue COVID relief negotiations after his inauguration and I strongly encourage him to prioritize state and local aid in that package. The past nine months have been devastating for local governments and we face catastrophic cuts without support. In the meantime, I will continue working with my colleagues to ensure Illinois and Chicago get the help they need.

"As federal and state agencies begin the process of rolling out the next round of relief checks and business assistance, my offices and I stand ready to provide help to constituents navigating these processes."

Included in the same package was Fiscal Year 21 government funding legislation:

"During these unprecedented times, a government shutdown -- no matter how short -- is simply unacceptable. Now more than ever, the American people need their leaders to do their jobs and keep the agencies that serve them running. That's why I'm glad that House and Senate legislators were able to come together on a bipartisan compromise to fund our government for the coming year. It was critical that we were able to agree to a year-long package rather than yet another short-term extension, stability is what the American people need. The package ensures that Americans can count on federal services as the pandemic and economic crisis continues.

"Much like the COVID relief bill, this funding package is not the bill I would have written. However, I'm proud to have still secured key provisions for Illinois.

"As Chairman of the House subcommittee responsible for providing federal funds to assist states' election security efforts, I am disappointed that the bill fails to include support for continued improvements to our election infrastructure. Since the election, Republicans have alleged massive voter fraud and faulted our voting infrastructure and yet, they fought the inclusion of this critical funding. Beyond this shortcoming, there were some successful provisions that made it into my bill. For example, despite the tight budget constraints I was able to secure $11.92 billion for the IRS, an increase of $409 million from the previous fiscal year, to help provide better resources for taxpayers, create a more efficient IRS and improve their technology."

Quigley's FSGG bill includes:

$7.72 billion for the Judiciary, a significant increase from last year to provide prospering funding for our judicial system
$270 million for Community Development Financial Institutions
$778.9 million for the Small Business Administration to allow them to continue to assist small businesses during this critical time
$20 million for the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to help review the impact of foreign investments on our national security
Additionally, the funding bills include:

$40 million for ALS research, twice the amount included in FY20;
Funding to support the renaming of military buildings and bases that bear the name of confederate leaders;
$43.4 million in new targeted vouchers to reduce homelessness among families with children, individuals, the unsheltered, veterans, & domestic violence survivors;
$182 million for NOAA Climate Research
$53 million for PFAS cleanup
$330 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
$200 million for transit State of Good Repair grants
$90 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs medical care, including funding to provide homelessness assistance, suicide prevention and outreach, and gender-specific care for veterans; and
$25 million for gun violence prevention research at the CDC and NIH.

Source