Trump Chides Congress for Delaying More Small-Business Funding, Federal Nominations

HINTS AT TAKING EXECUTIVE-BRANCH ACTION

by Sharon Rondeau

(Apr. 15, 2020) — President Trump announced at today’s Rose Garden coronavirus briefing that Abbott Lsboratories has perfected an antibody test to determine if an individual has been infected with the virus.

He said the “Airbridge” flights continue to bring in significant numbers of medical equipment and supplies.

A total of 39.4 million N95 masks, 57 million surgical masks, and other medical supplies have been shipped to various locations across the country, he said.

After approximately two minutes, Trump prompted the airing of a video depicting, in accelerated-motion, the construction of ventilators by General Motors produced by the company.  “They’re now making thousands of ventilators,” he said, “and these are very high-grade ventilators.”

He said the U.S. “will be able to help other countries” with ventilators.

Vaccines under development must be tested, he said, and approximately 35 clinical trials are now ongoing for anti-viral medications.

He said Congress has not approved a number of open judicial vacancies and other crucial federal positions.  “Many of these people have been waiting two and a half years,” he said, or even longer.

Trump then enumerated three open positions, one of which is associated with “food security.”  “Every single judge, every nominee goes through maximum — or at least they go through a long process,” Trump said.  His nominee to oversee Voice of America, Michael Pack, has been stalled, he said.

The constitutional authority “that we’re given under the recess provisions” could be invoked to adjourn Congress in order to make interim appointments, Trump said.  “We have to do whatever we have to do…every block, every week, they put up roadblocks,” he complained.  “Whether it’s Russia, Russia, Russia, or impeach…It’s a scam what they do, and it’s been that way for a long time.”

Article II, Section 3 states, “He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States.”

“We need people for this crisis, and we don’t want to play any political games,” he continued.  “They’ve been waiting…and everyone knows they’re going to be approved,” he said.  “They could do it in one hour, and instead it takes them many days.”

He repeated his announcement of Tuesday that his administration will be defunding the World Health Organization (WHO) over its slow response to the coronavirus, at least temporarily.  “You see what happened to Italy, you see what happened to Spain…France,” he said, accusing the WHO of making “a horrible tragic mistake or perhaps they knew.”

The WHO appears to have failed to investigate the origins of the virus and to have accepted China’s assertions that it was not contagious between humans.

More than a million small businesses have taken advantage of the Paycheck Protection Program, Trump said, which launched 12 days ago.  “This goes to workers, and it goes to small businesses,” he said of the funds. He then called on Congress to increase appropriations for the program, a move Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had advocated but the House failed to approve.

He said that the food-processing industry is performing a vital service.

He said he hopes the economy, once it reopens, will be better than it was prior to the arrival of the coronavirus.

“We’ll be opening up some states much sooner than others,” he said, as he had on Tuesday.  “Governors are chomping at the bit to get going.”

On Thursday, he said, he and Vice President Mike Pence will be speaking with all of the governors about reopening their economies.

He has also spoken with industry leaders in sports, technology, food production, hospitality, and other areas, he said, complimenting the “very smart people” on the call.

“We want to get our country again,” he said.  “We miss sports; we miss everything; we want to get back.”

Discussed during that call was “protective gear” and “robust testing” for the coronavirus, he said, as well as “infrastructure” and the new industry of “telemedical.”

“As we’ve seen throughout our proud country, we’ll forge an even brighter future, along with other nations…we’ll be the comeback kids, all of us,” Trump declared. “I’m very proud of the people of this country…”

He will be reporting “some openings” on Thursday after speaking with the governors, he said.  “We’re going to get our country back.”

Dr. Deborah Birx reported that cases are declining across the country and the U.S. fatality rate is lower than in other countries.  She said she is “inspired by the American people” as they continue to practice social distancing.

She said that “states and metro areas” are being examined “differently” in relation to the impact of the coronavirus.  She said the state of Rhode Island “first” had “new cases from New York City” and is now receiving them from Boston.  Providence is a particular area of concern, she noted.

“This is a highly-contagious virus…there is always a chance that an asymptomatic person can spread the virus,” she reminded Americans who might be considering “having that dinner party.”

She said metro areas, states, and communities “are improving” and that certain states with very few relative cases “will have to make decisions after generalized guidelines are put out.”

Birx said that her colleagues are working to fight the coronavirus with U.S. assets “around the globe.”

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Purdue reported that “this week” the coronavirus is impacting food-processing activity; however, he said food supply is a priority for his department as well as the health and safety of industry employees.

Farmers, grocery-store employees, truckers and others are involved in the supply chain, he said.  “In the United States we have plenty of food for all our citizens,” he said, explaining that the “bare shelves you may be seeing” in stores are a result of high demand and not short supply.

He said the “food-supply chain has proven to be very resilient, just like the American people.”

He concluded by thanking Trump “for the opportunity” to serve.

Financial aid from the USDA will be going to farmers, Trump said, which came from the new trade agreement with China.  “They never gave us ten cents; now they’re paying us billions of dollars,” he said.”

Pence then took the podium and reported that 3,324,000 tests have been conducted across the country.  More than 27,000 Americans have died from the virus, he said.

“Despite the heartbreaking losses, we’re getting there, America,” he continued.  He maintained that the “guidelines” for slowing the spread of the virus have played a large role. New guidelines will be forthcoming, he said, as the country moves toward recovery.

Twenty-four percent of America’s counties have no coronavirus cases, Pence reported.

He urged those who have recovered from the virus to consider donating “convalescent plasma” for experimental treatment of virus sufferers.

Pence said the administration is “proud” of America’s healthcare workers, including military medical professionals, for their efforts.  “At the president’s direction,” he said, military medical personnel were relocated from the Javits Center in New York City and USNS Comfort to other areas where the need is greater.

“We’re saving lives, and we’re healing our land,” Pence said.

When Pence concluded, Trump retook the podium to repeat from Tuesday in response to a reporter’s question, that “Washington, DC” will not be instructing the governors what to do.  He said he believes there “will not be any reason” to “close down” a state during the recovery.

Trump complimented McConnell’s approval of federal judges but on other nominees, he said, “they take the maximum amount of time.”

He said the people operating VOA are denigrating the U.S. and that Purdue “needs” the food-distribution position filled.  It’s because of the Democrats, …and judges are a priority…they’re trying to put us through the mill…” he said, and that no other administration has ever waited “years” to have “hundreds” of nominees approved.

“We needed these people before, but now we really need these people,” he said.