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Victory: Rep. Lauren Boebert Leads Successful Effort

September 27, 2022

Biden's $22.4 Billion Request for New COVID Spending not Included in Government Funding Bill

Congresswoman Lauren Boebert led a successful effort supported by 26 Members of Congress seeking to prevent the Biden regime’s request for another $22.4 billion for COVID relief from being included in the government funding bill expected to be voted on this week.

Congresswoman Lauren Boebert stated, “COVID is over. Even Joe Biden recently admitted that. Accordingly, it defies common sense that his administration would continue to try and spend like drunken sailors and squander another $22.4 billion of your tax dollars on new ‘COVID relief’. In a rare, bipartisan moment of fiscal restraint, Congressional negotiators agreed with the effort of 25 of my colleagues and I and decided not to fund this wasteful and unnecessary Biden request."

Background:

During his first sit down interview with a reporter in 223 days, Biden told Scott Pelley of "60 Minutes" that "the pandemic is over." Unfortunately, his actions remain hypocritical, as his regime recently asked for another $22.4 billion in new COVID spending.

Rep. Lauren Boebert opposed this new spending and led a successful effort supported by 26 Members of Congress demanding that future government funding bills not fund this request and not contain new COVID spending. 

Last night, the Senate released a draft continuing resolution that did not contain any new COVID funding and that failed to include Biden's request. 

Biden's request also didn’t make sense because inflation is historically high, America is already $30+ trillion dollars in debt, and there is still $700 billion in unspent COVID funds.

Signers of Rep. Boebert’s letter include: Reps. Brian Babin (TX-36), Andy Biggs (AZ-05), Dan Bishop (NC-09), Ken Buck (CO-04), Buddy Carter (GA-01), Andrew Clyde (GA-09), Pat Fallon (TX-04), Matt Gaetz (FL-01), Louie Gohmert (TX-01), Bob Good (VA-05), Lance Gooden (TX-05), Paul Gosar (AZ-04), W. Gregory Steube (FL-17), Vicky Hartzler (MO-04), Clay Higgins (LA-03), Randy K. Weber (TX-14), Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), Brian Mast (FL-18), Lisa McClain (MI-10), Mary Miller (IL-15), Troy Nehls (TX-22), Ralph Norman (SC-05), Chip Roy (TX-21), Tom Tiffany (WI-07), and Jeff Van Drew (NJ-02).

The full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Majority Leader Schumer, Speaker Pelosi, Republican Leader McConnell, and Republican Leader McCarthy:

As the end of the fiscal year is upon us, we urge you to reject any further COVID-19 spending in an upcoming Continuing Resolution (CR). As the American people struggle to pay their bills in the midst of a record-high inflation crisis, Congress should not continue to waste taxpayer dollars on a pandemic that even Joe Biden believes is over.

On September 2, 2022, the White House sent a request asking Congress to include an additional $22.4 billion in the imminent government funding deal to “cover ongoing needs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.” To date, the federal government has appropriated more than $4.8 trillion for six COVID-relief laws. The most recent of these laws was the $1.9 trillion so-called American Rescue Plan. Of the money authorized for the American Rescue Plan, $700 billion has yet to be spent.

After two and a half years of lockdowns and nearly $5 trillion spent, the American people agree with Mr. Biden’s assessment that COVID is over and there is no reason to continue spending billions on COVID-19 “relief” as a result. To expect American taxpayers to fund this regime's reckless spending agenda is irresponsible and hypocritical. 

As such, we urge you to reject any further COVID-19 spending in any upcoming CR.

Sincerely,

Rep. Lauren Boebert (CO-03)

Rep. Brian Babin (TX-36)

Rep. Andy Biggs (AZ-05)

Rep. Dan Bishop (NC-09)

Rep. Ken Buck (CO-04)

Rep. Buddy Carter (GA-01)

Rep. Andrew Clyde (GA-09)

Rep. Pat Fallon (TX-04)

Rep. Matt Gaetz (FL-01)

Rep. Louie Gohmert (TX-01)

Rep. Bob Good (VA-05)

Rep. Lance Gooden (TX-05)

Rep. Paul Gosar (AZ-04)

Rep. W. Gregory Steube (FL-17)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (MO-04)

Rep. Clay Higgins (LA-03)

Rep. Randy K. Weber (TX-14)

Rep. Doug LaMalfa (CA-01)

Rep. Brian Mast (FL-18)

Rep. Lisa McClain (MI-10)

Rep. Mary Miller (IL-15)

Rep. Troy Nehls (TX-22)

Rep. Ralph Norman (SC-05)

Rep. Chip Roy (TX-21)

Rep. Tom Tiffany (WI-07)

Rep. Jeff Van Drew (NJ-02)