Day One Wrap-up: Dems Reject Republican Amendments in First Day of $3.5 Trillion Tax Hike and Spending Package Hearing
Ways and Means Republicans offer amendments to protect working families, small businesses from more Washington mandates and tax hikes
September 9, 2021 - Blog - Press Releases - Worker and Family Support
As Democrats proceed with their crippling $3.5 trillion tax hike and spending spree, Ways and Means Republicans offered commonsense amendments to protect working families and small businesses from more Washington mandates and tax hikes.
On Universal Paid Family and Medical Leave (Subtitle A):
Democrats rejected Rep. Kevin Hern’s (R-OK) amendment that would protect Americans’ existing paid family and medical leave plans and prevent unfairly forcing the the middle class to subsidize corporations’ paid leave plans.
Democrats rejected Rep. Brad Wenstrup’s (R-OH) “Stopping Taxpayer Theft" amendment designed to stop the greatest theft of taxpayer dollars in our lifetime with requirements for simple proof of identity and eligibility certifications.
Democrats rejected Rep. Lloyd Smucker’s (R-PA) “Strengthening our Workforce Amendment" that would require individuals to be employed in the last 30 days and have an earnings history in at least four of the last five quarters in order to receive paid leave benefits.
Democrats rejected Rep. Tom Rice’s (R-SC) amendment that would limit Democrats’ paid leave benefits to one caregiver per household for the same caregiving days.
Democrats rejected Rep. Jason Smith’s (R-MO) “Helping Hardworking Families Amendment" which better target Universal Paid Family and Medical Leave and establish a minimum and maximum benefit amount.
Democrats rejected Rep. Drew Ferguson’s (R-GA) “Defending Small Business Owners Amendment" which requires workers to provide 30-days’ notice of the need to be absent from work to all employers, with the exception of small employers for which the applicable period would be substituted with 60 days.
Democrats rejected Rep. Mike Kelly’s (R-PA) amendment called the “Making Government Work More Efficiently and Effectively Amendment." It changes the effective date to six months after Treasury can certify they have expertise to stand up a new entitlement program.
Democrats rejected Subcommittee on Worker and Family Support Republican Leader Rep. Jackie Walorski’s (R-IN) amendment defending worker paychecks and family choice.
On Retirement (Subtitle B):
Democrats rejected Rep. Brady’s “Bipartisan Retirement Options and Main Street Protection" amendment which would restore the bipartisan agreement that would protect small businesses from a federal retirement mandate-which sadly Democrats abandoned.
Democrats rejected Rep. Brady’s “No New Mandates From Washington" amendment, which would more narrowly restore the bipartisan auto-enrollment provision in H.R. 2954 (117th Congress), as reported by the Committee on Ways and Means by voice vote, and protect small businesses from a new federal retirement mandate-which sadly Democrats abandoned.
Democrats rejected Rep. Vern Buchanan’s (R-FL) Small Business Protection amendment that would exempt from the federal retirement mandate excise tax small businesses with 50 or fewer employees, minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, and veteran- owned businesses.
Democrats rejected Rep. Rice’s Protecting Workers from Financial Predators Amendment would strike the requirement for an automatic contribution plan or arrangement to allow participants to receive at least 50% of their vested retirement account balances in the form of a lifetime annuity.
On Childcare Access and Equity (SUBTITLE C):
Democrats rejected Rep. Walorki’s (R-IN) “Protecting Worker Paychecks & Family Choice" amendment that would reiterate Republican efforts to work in a bipartisan way to improve the lives of working families.
Democrats rejected Rep. Reed’s (R-NY) “Protecting Taxpayers from Wasteful Duplication" amendment which would keep states from receiving more unnecessary government spending.
Democrats rejected Rep. Kelly’s (R-PA) “Religious Freedom Amendment" preventing discrimination against faith based child care providers.
Democrats rejected Rep. Ferguson’s (R-GA) “Supporting Women and Minority Owned Businesses over Bureaucrats" amendment providing $1 billion to HHS to support five new child care grant programs.
Democrats rejected Rep. Wenstrup’s (R-OH) “Safeguarding American Allies Amendment" increasing access to child care for lawfully admitted Afghan special immigrant visa holders.
Further Background:
Key W&M Dem: $3.5 Trillion Tax-Hike and Spending Bill “Too Rushed, Driven by Politics Rather than Policy" (Excerpts)
Walorski: Dems Push Cradle-to-Grave Washington Control over Americans’ Lives, Work, & Family Decisions
Brady Blasts $3.5 Trillion Tax Hike & Spending Package in Hearing Opener
Post: Democrats’ Reckless Tax and Spend Agenda Puts American Jobs on the Line
