Even before the COVID-19 pandemic slowed our economy and tens of millions of Americans found themselves out of work through no fault of their own, many workers already had trouble finding stable, well-paying jobs. Now, as temporary layoffs become permanent and many companies turn to automation while the coronavirus keeps workers at home, workers could face additional barriers even after the virus is contained.

That’s why at a recent hearing, House Budget Democrats heard testimony from expert witnesses and discussed artificial intelligence (AI) technology; its potential opportunities and challenges; its likely effects on the economy, labor markets, and income inequality; and what federal policies and investments are needed to help ensure all Americans benefit. …

More than two years after our investigation started, the House Budget Committee released a new report outlining the Trump Administration’s repeated abuses of executive spending authority.

The Trump Administration has methodically and purposefully undermined foundational budget laws and circumvented Congress, eroding the system of checks and balance central to our democracy.

Despite numerous legal decisions from the non-partisan Government Accountability Office (GAO), warnings from congressional leaders, and even the President’s ultimate impeachment, the Trump Administration and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) have continued their legally problematic efforts to gain control of federal spending and advance their own authoritarian view of executive power. …

Why Federal IT Investments Will Help to Ensure Timely COVID-19 Relief

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the struggle at all levels of government to provide timely information, resources, benefits, and confidence to citizens in need. While the need to modernize information technology (IT) is not new, the pandemic has been a powerful accelerant, turning this chronic problem into an urgent need that demands action.

Emergency assistance programs across the board — but especially unemployment assistance — have been hampered by our outdated IT systems, leaving workers and families with delayed relief or no help at all.

That’s why at a recent hearing, House Budget Democrats examined how federal investments in tech, especially in light of the COVID-19 crisis, will help Americans access and receive services from a safe distance, and help state and local governments continue their work to serve, support, and protect families. …

This package of landmark reforms will prevent presidential abuse, restore our system of checks and balances, strengthen accountability and transparency, and protect our elections.

After the revelations of Watergate and abuses under the Nixon Administration, Congress enacted a series of landmark laws and reforms to change the way politics is conducted and to prevent a future president from abusing the power of their office. For more than fifty years, those measures have been enough — until now.

Since President Trump took office, he has placed his own personal and political interests above the national interest, seeking to systematically and shamelessly tear down the guardrails designed to protect our democracy and the rule of law. …

We’ve seen this happen before. After the Great Recession, the slow recovery of state & local government spending (caused in part by the premature cut-off of federal aid) delayed the return to pre-crisis unemployment levels by four years. But Republicans must have a short memory, because that fact hasn’t stopped them from blocking critical federal aid to states and localities amid a pandemic and the resulting recession.

Republicans’ short-sightedness is putting American lives at risk — along with millions of jobs — and threatens to delay our long-term economic recovery. But House Democrats are pushing back. …

Republicans short-sighted COVID response is hurting our economic recovery.

#1. COVID’s Economic Impact Has Been Brutal & Uneven

Coronavirus has impacted every community. But blows to workers’ economic security have fallen severely and disproportionately on Black and Latino Americans and lower-income families, threatening the well-being of some of our most vulnerable communities.

From job loss to worsening food and housing insecurity and rising uninsured rates, the Americans least able to withstand an economic crisis have been most affected. Overall, nearly 40% of households earning less than $40,000 a year experienced a job loss in March, compared to 13% of those earning more than $100,000. …

By Rep. John Yarmuth, Chairman of the House Budget Committee

It will pay for itself. It will help middle-class Americans. It will incentivize investments in our economy and our workforce. Republicans have been repeating these same broken promises for years, desperately searching for a combination of words that could seemingly justify their failed 2017 tax law that blew up the deficit and did next to nothing for our economy.

They can’t find the words to defend this policy because there aren’t any. In truth, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) amounted to little more than a handout for the wealthy and big corporations; a gift from Republicans to the top 1 percent. …

When American troops return home after serving their country, the last thing they should be worrying about is putting food on the table, affording their health care, or meeting their basic human needs. Sadly, that is the reality for many veterans.

Instead of protecting America’s veterans and showing them the respect they deserve, year after year, President Trump’s budgets have included destructive cuts to crucial programs millions of vets rely on to get by. Programs like Medicaid, Medicare, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). …