Indiana Rep. Jim Banks (R-District 3) was the only Indiana congressperson to vote against passing a coronavirus relief package after the World Health Organization officially declared the novel virus a pandemic Saturday.
HR 6201 responds to the outbreak by ensuring paid sick leave and free testing for the virus, expanding food assistance and unemployment benefits and putting in place stricter workplace protections for health care workers.
Republican Reps. Jackie Walorski (IN-02), Jim Baird (IN-04), Susan Brooks (IN-05), Greg Pence (IN-06), Larry Bucshon (IN-08) and Trey Hollingsworth (IN-09) all voted in favor of the resolution.
Democratic Reps. Pete Visclosky (IN-01) and André Carson (IN-07) also voted in favor of the virus relief package.
Banks tweeted last week that he opposed the measure in part because of "potentially unsustainable mandates on small businesses."
Hopefully the Senate can come up with a better product to fix these serious problems and send it back to the House. I continue to encourage Speaker Pelosi to cancel our Congressional recess so we can get this done soon & right before taking a break from our important work! — Jim Banks (@RepJimBanks) March 14, 2020
The resolution now moves to the Republican-controlled Senate.
Banks tweeted out a Fox News interview with Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton Monday, writing he agreed with the senator's sentiment that the House resolution didn't go far enough to address problems caused by the pandemic.
I agree @SenTomCotton . "The House bill doesn't go far enough or fast enough to address coronavirus. We need to do more to get cash into the hands of affected workers and families as quickly as possible." Let's work on a payroll tax cut, direct cash payments, and more. pic.twitter.com/vX4Pa78BKv — Jim Banks (@RepJimBanks) March 16, 2020
