Opinion Pieces

Augusta Chronicle
Rep. Rick W. Allen
November 14, 2020
https://www.augustachronicle.com/opinion/20201116/guest-column-we-will-get-through-this-tough-time

Our lives have all been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and while our nation has been incredibly resilient – especially here in Georgia – the fight to combat the coronavirus and restore the greatest economy in the world is far from over.

One might expect that the unprecedented challenges we’ve faced this year would bring Congress together to work with unprecedented bipartisanship, but unfortunately, there are two very different visions for our nation’s future.

Over the past few months, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have made their radical agenda clear: They want to defund our police, dismantle our democratic institutions, and destroy our economy by raising taxes.

That’s why House Republicans have made a Commitment to America. We know this year has been tough on American businesses, workers and families, and we are laser-focused on restoring our way of life, rebuilding the greatest economy in the world, and renewing the American dream.

Restoring our way of life starts with defeating COVID-19 and developing a safe and effective vaccine. I’m proud to share that we are making great progress on this front thanks to Operation Warp Speed, a partnership between the federal government and private vaccine manufacturers that aims to develop 300 million doses of a safe and effective vaccine by January.

Operation Warp Speed allows steps to occur simultaneously, so what would normally take years will now only take months. This effort is funded through the CARES Act and other supplemental legislation that I was proud to support in Congress, and there’s a highly effective vaccine nearing completion.

Another key to restoring our way of life is building safe communities. This means supporting the brave men and women who serve in law enforcement – not defunding the police. Any calls to do so are dangerous and misguided. However, I believe there is room for reform, and am proud to co-sponsor the JUSTICE Act which increases funding by $1.75 billion for better police training, community policing and equipment, including 500,000 more body cameras.

As we continue to recover from the impact of the virus, I also commit to focusing on policy solutions that will rebuild our economy, which was the greatest in the world before the pandemic hit. We must get Americans back to work, continue to invest in career and technical education and apprenticeships, and add more new good-paying jobs. The Paycheck Protection Program was created through the CARES Act and provides small businesses with immediate assistance to help keep employees on payroll. By supporting businesses and workers with $200 billion in forgivable loans through PPP, we can help our small businesses through this tough time and ensure that America is open for business.

We must also extend $2,000 child tax credits for families and Opportunity Zone credits that generate $10 billion each year in distressed communities, and continue to pass pro-growth tax policies that increase take-home pay and encourage innovation.


But in order to truly rebuild our economy, we must end our reliance on China for essentials like PPE, medicine and technology. This means moving the supply chain out of China while increasing U.S. manufacturing and reaching more fair trade deals.

Finally, we must renew the American Dream.

Despite the far-left’s attempt to make you believe otherwise, this country is still the greatest in the world and our best days are still ahead of us. We must invest in our next generation by expanding school choice to ensure every child in every neighborhood can attend a good school, and support our workforce by investing in more career and technical education. I’ve long advocated for these priorities as a member of the House Education and Labor Committee. By encouraging workforce development and lifelong learning, more Americans can earn a promotion or pursue a meaningful new career.

The two visions for our country could not be more different from each other – defund, dismantle and destroy, or restore, rebuild and renew.

My commitment to the 12th District is this: We will get through this tough time, and I will work tirelessly to ensure we are still the greatest, strongest and most resilient nation in the world where every American has the opportunity to succeed.