Transcript - Donald Trump Vlog: COVID Relief Plan in Congress - December 22, 2020 | Factba.se

Donald Trump

00:00:00 - 00:00:28 (28 sec)

Throughout the summer Democrats cruelly blocked COVID relief legislation in an effort to advance their extreme left-wing agenda and influence the election. Then, a few months ago Congress started negotiations on a new package to get urgently needed help to the American people. It's taken forever. However, the bill they are now planning to send back to my desk is much different than anticipated.

Donald Trump

00:00:28 - 00:01:06 (39 sec)

It really is a disgrace. For example, among the more than 5,000 pages in this bill, which nobody in Congress has read because of its length and complexity, it's called the COVID Relief Bill but it has almost nothing to do with COVID. This bill contains $85.5 million for assistance to Cambodia, $134 million to Burma, $1.3 billion for Egypt and the Egyptian military, which will go out and buy almost exclusively Russian military equipment.

Donald Trump

00:01:06 - 00:01:38 (32 sec)

$25 million for democracy and gender programs in Pakistan, $505 million to Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. $40 million for the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., which is not even open for business, $1 billion for the Smithsonian, and an additional $154 million for the National Gallery of Art.

Donald Trump

00:01:38 - 00:02:17 (39 sec)

Likewise, these facilities are essentially not open. $7 million for reef fish management, $25 million to combat asian carp, $2.5 million to count the number of amberjack fish in the Gulf of Mexico, a provision to promote the breeding of fish in Federal hatcheries. $3 million in poultry production technology, $2 million to research the impact of downed trees, $566 million for construction projects at the FBI.

Donald Trump

00:02:17 - 00:02:54 (37 sec)

The bill also allows stimulus checks for the family members of illegal aliens, allowing them to get up to $1,800 each. This is far more than the Americans are given. Despite all of this wasteful spending, and much more, the $900 billion package provides hardworking taxpayers with only $600 each in relief payments, and not enough money is given to small businesses and, in particular, restaurants whose owners have suffered so grievously.

Donald Trump

00:02:54 - 00:03:18 (24 sec)

They were only given a deduction for others to use in business their restaurant for two years. This two-year period must be withdrawn, which will allow the owners to obtain financing and get their restaurants back in condition. Congress can terminate it at a much later date, but two years is not acceptable, it's not enough.

Donald Trump

00:03:18 - 00:03:45 (27 sec)

Congress found plenty of money for foreign countries, lobbyists, and special interests, while sending the bare minimum to the American people who need it. It wasn't their fault, it was China's fault, not their fault. I am asking Congress to amend this bill and increase the ridiculously low $600 to $2,000, or $4,000 for a couple.

Donald Trump

00:03:45 - 00:04:08 (23 sec)

I am also asking Congress to immediately get rid of the wasteful and unnecessary items from this legislation and to send me a suitable bill, or else the next administration will have to deliver a COVID relief package, and maybe that administration will be me and we will get it done. Thank you very much.