Nancy Pelosi blasts House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy for promoting COVID-19 relief plan provision despite opposition

The successful passage of Joe Biden’s COVID-19 relief plan was done on party lines without any support from Republican lawmakers. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called out House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy for promoting the relief plan despite voting against it.

Pelosi’s office issued a statement calling out the House Minority Leader for promoting the benefit of the American Rescue Plan to aid small businesses on Facebook despite unanimous GOP opposition. McCarthy shared a link to the Small Business Administration website for restaurants to apply for funding equal to the financial losses made during the pandemic. McCarthy noted that applications for the SBA Restaurant Revitalization Fund open on May 3.

McCarthy is now among the many Republican lawmakers who touted the restaurant assistance fund included in the program despite voting against the overall plan. The same Republicans defended touting the restaurant assistance fund saying that it does not mean they support everything else.

“Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy called the American Rescue Plan ‘socialist,’ claimed it would turn the US into Venezuela, and convinced every member of his caucus to vote against it. He even warned the American people ‘help is not on the way.’ Now he’s touting the American Rescue Plan’s Restaurant Revitalization Fund to brag about bringing home the bacon,” said the statement from Pelosi’s office.

Restaurants are eligible to receive up to $10 million per business or up to $5 million per location. The recipients are not required to pay back the amount as long as the money is used for payroll, maintenance, mortgage payments, construction of outdoor seating, and other eligible expenses by March 11, 2023.

Pelosi has also taken notice of the current splintering within the House GOP as Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney has been very vocal about her criticism against former President Donald Trump, angering many Trump-supporting members of Congress. With talks to replace Cheney from her position increasing among those Republican members of Congress, the House Speaker’s office issued a statement mocking the GOP for its treatment towards Cheney.

In a mock advertisement, the statement had the headline, “From the GOP Leadership: Help Wanted - Non-Threatening Female.” This is in reference to reports that McCarthy and House Minority Whip Steve Scalise wanted Cheney’s replacement to be someone who does not pose a threat to them.