Rep. Brian Mast earned applause from his colleagues after a rousing speech prior to the House vote to approve the coronavirus economic relief package.
Mast, a Florida Republican, urged his fellow members of Congress to approve the $2.2 trillion economic relief package from the House floor on Friday. During his speech, he lauded the people of the United States for their response to the pandemic.
“I would rather die than see my country stumble or fall. And by God, I mean that, and I don’t think I’m the only one in this body that feels this way. And I’m worried that as a result of a virus that was born in the disgusting market in Wuhan, China, that was hidden from the world that our country may stumble,” Mast said.
“But I can tell you that that worry has subsided quickly for me as I looked around my own community and realized again that Americans are a salty group of tough SOBs that are defeated by absolutely nothing. And this isn’t going to defeat us either,” he continued.
Mast noted that he doesn’t approve of every aspect of the legislation, but nevertheless argued that it was vital that Congress approve the legislation so that aid can start flowing to people in need.
“There’s parts of this bill that I don’t like, but I’m proud that when Americans wake up tomorrow, they’re going to continue to know that we wake up here not as victims but as people with a greater opportunity than anybody across the world,” he explained.
He added, “Fifty stars, 13 red and white stripes. We get to decide for ourselves that today is better than yesterday, this week is better than next week, this month is better than last month and next year and so on. Nobody else gets to decide that for us. That hasn’t changed and will never change.”
Mast’s speech prompted several members to erupt into applause, forcing the chairman to tap his gavel. The economic relief package passed the House in the afternoon Friday and now heads to President Trump for him to sign.
