Stimulus package not stimulating enough for Americans

Many National Guard members who supported COVID-19 response efforts in 2020 spent much of the year conducting tests, sanitizing facilities, providing logistical support and delivering meals and personal protective equipment, Air Force Master Sgt. Erich B. Smith  reported.

Now, the Guard can add another mission to a fight that is approaching the one-year mark: supporting vaccinations.

As early as mid-December, select Guard units were preparing to support local health officials by collecting, securing, transporting and –when requested – administering COVID-19 vaccinations.

“We’ve been able to rotate people through very regularly, very easily,” said Sgt. 1st Class Jennifer Boisvert, with the New Hampshire Army National Guard and a noncommissioned officer in charge at one of the sites. “From the time you drive in, to the time you get your vaccination, you’re probably only here for about 20 minutes.”

The strong demand for the vaccine translated into long hours for Guard members.

“We get an hour to prepare before our shift starts, then it’s pretty steady until the end of the day,” said Tech. Sgt. Matthew Prugger, an aerospace medic with the New Hampshire Air National Guard’s 157th Air Refueling Wing.

The Bogged down Stimulus Package

U.S. Representative Andy Barr (KY-06) speaks on the House floor about the “COVID” relief bill that is more a progressive payoff to special interests. This $1.9 trillion spending bill has less than 10% allocated to healthcare spending.

In a fiery speech on the House floor, U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (KY-06) criticized House Democrats for continuing their hyper-partisan, divisive agenda.  Tonight, House Democrats charged ahead with the passage of a $1.9 trillion deficit spending bill.  This comes after Republicans and Democrats worked together throughout 2020 to craft five bipartisan COVID-19 relief packages.  Congressman Barr supported these bills, including a $900 billion relief bill at the end of December.  After his vote in opposition to this bill, Congressman Barr released the following statement:  

“House Democrats should be embarrassed.  This massive, $1.9 trillion spending spree is nothing more than a fiscally irresponsible, liberal wish-list.  Less than 10% of this bill actually responds to the pandemic, in the form of vaccine distribution and other public health needs.

“Instead, the bulk of this bill is dedicated to misplaced priorities such as bailing out mismanaged state and local governments like New York and California for pre-COVID liabilities, paying people to not work, expanding Obamacare, providing stimulus checks to illegal immigrants and allowing taxpayer funds to pay for abortions.  

“It is true that the legislation appropriates $129 billion to schools, on top of the $110 billion already provided to schools.  But it does so without any stipulation that schools actually reopen, despite OVERWHELMING scientific evidence that it is safe for our children to go back to in-person learning.  Additionally, 95% of the money allocated to schools will not be spent until after 2022.  That means this bill does almost nothing to get our kids back in the classroom.

“Meanwhile, approximately $1 trillion in COVID relief already appropriated by Congress remains unspent.  I am voting NO to protect the hardworking taxpayers of Kentucky from this totally reckless and hyper-partisan payoff to Democrat run states and liberal special interests.”

Congressman Barr was an early supporter of Operation Warp Speed (OWS) and voted for over $10 billion to support OWS.  Multiple COVID-19 vaccines were developed, produced and mass distributed within a calendar year of the virus hitting the U.S. because of OWS.  Congressman Barr also voted for $48 billion for vaccine distribution in schools, small businesses and healthcare providers so we can continue safely reopening America, including $20 billion specifically for the purchase of vaccines that will make the vaccine available at no charge for anyone who needs it.  Lastly, Congressman Barr voted in support of the four major COVID-19 relief packages passed in Congress on a bipartisan basis.  These include the Families First Coronavirus Act, the Coronavirus, Aid, Relief, and Economic Securities (CARES) Act, the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act and the 2020 year-end COVID-19 relief bill in December.