Rep. Williams' Amendments Fight for Small Businesses and Protect the Unborn

Press Release

Congressman Roger Williams (TX-25) introduced 2 Amendments in the House Committee on Financial Services and 2 more in the House Small Business Committee. Today, Democrats steamed ahead with a partisan COVID-19 package led by Speaker Pelosi and Chuck Schumer at the direction of President Biden, who just weeks ago offered a pledge of unity and bipartisanship.

"The Amendments I'll offer in the Financial Services and Small Business Committees will expose the Democrats COVID-19 package for what it is - a wish list of liberal priorities. Chairwoman Waters and Chairwoman Velazquez followed President Biden's lead to promote their radical progressive agenda under the guise of pandemic relief. The Democrats are attempting to give relief for abortion providers, promote student loan forgiveness on the backs of blue collar workers, and encourage small business relief programs that are not targeted to the industries most in need" said Congressman Williams. "I'm proud to work alongside my Republican colleagues to protect the most vulnerable among us, fight for Main Street Businesses devastated by forced government mandates, expand rural access to broadband internet, and prevent Democrats from making an honest plumber or mechanic pay for someone else's college education."

Congressman Williams' Financial Services Committee Amendments

Amendment #1 establishes a grant program in the Treasury Department for eligible small businesses to offset the expenses of employees burdened with the costs of higher education. It's critical we address the underlying causes of growing student loan debts and assess whether a degree from four-year university is a necessary requirement for gainful employment in the United States. Congressman Williams supports increasing funding and improving access to Career and Technical Education (CTE) and promoting students to get loans from the private sector rather than federal government, where default rates are significantly lower.

Amendment #2 would allow small businesses access to the proposed SSBCI, so long as the business is in compliance with their states' minimum wage laws. Each individual state knows the economic situation of their small business communities better than the federal government. This provision makes clear that a federal minimum wage of $15 dollars would be devastating to employers and cause over a million people to lose their jobs in the middle of the pandemic.

Congressman Williams' Small Business Committee Amendments

Amendment #1 prohibits Planned Parenthood, or any of their entities and affiliates, from eligibility and thereby the use of funds from the Paycheck Protection Program. No tax dollars should ever be spent performing the horrific act of abortion, and Congress must make clear that Planned Parenthood is ineligible for PPP funds before the Biden administration takes action to have them included.

Amendment #2 Directs the Administrator of the SBA to prioritize any existing uncompleted rules or guidance stemming from the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act (P.L. 116-260) before doing so for any rules, guidance, or expending amounts appropriated, to carry out a statutory program enacted on or after January 1, 2021. The Shuttered Venue Operators (SVO) grants were signed into law thanks to my bipartisan Save our Stages Act. The SBA has still not released SVO application guidance though the program was signed into law by President Trump nearly 6 weeks ago. We must not start new programs until we can execute the terms of existing ones.

Congressman Williams' Spoke in Support of other Amendments in the Financial Services Committee

Barr Amendment would establish a grant program in the Treasury Department to deploy broadband infrastructure in rural communities. TX-25's rural communities are in constant need of improved access to internet. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed just how vulnerable these communities are as businesses, medical providers, and schools struggled to move classes, telehealth appointments and retail operations online. Access to broadband outside of our major cities is one of my top priorities in the 117th Congress and I thank Mr. Barr of Kentucky for his work on this topic.

Luetkemeyer Amendment would ensure that and small business relief is appropriately tailored to small businesses and not big corporations. As a small business owner for nearly 50 years, I know the challenges on Main Street America during this time, any relief promised to them by Congress must be delivered in full, and in a timely manner.

Loudermilk Amendment would prevent local governments from any rental assistance funds until they open all primary and secondary schools. The economy cannot fully reopen until students are allowed back in the classroom. Families who continue to pay taxes for a public education but don't receive the service they're paying for is shameful. President Biden's comments this week make clear he is siding with teacher's unions instead of scientists.

Mooney Amendment would require that all housing provisions in this bill have a specific set aside for rural communities. Housing dollars cannot be earmarked for big cities in New York and California, but rather have equitable resources for every city and town in America.

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