Hopeful that they have strategically established a solid way to “reignite the American economy,” the bipartisan congressional caucus known as the Problem Solvers Caucus, where Congressman Fred Upton serves as Vice-Chair has today released a 6-page document they have designed as a Reopening & Recovery Back to Work Checklist.
The 50 member caucus of 25 Democrats and 25 Republicans conducted a virtual press conference online at noon today, to roll out their multi-prong, science-based, data-driven proposal focused on reopening America safely and reigniting the economy. You can see the full checklist at this link: BackToWorkChecklist
The 50-member bipartisan Caucus found consensus on the bipartisan set of recommendations focused on public health, economic rescue, and stimulus plans for our country’s immediate future. The plan will serve as guiding principles that the Problem Solvers Caucus hope to see incorporated and addressed in the country’s plans to address the global Coronavirus crisis.
Copies of the Reopening and Recovery Back to Work Checklist have been delivered to Congressional leadership and the White House as options for immediate consideration in the next phase(s) of Coronavirus response.
Upton says, “Our bipartisan plan to get folks back to work while prioritizing public health and safety sets benchmarks based on science,” and adds, “This plan focuses on our nation’s immediate needs to keep people healthy, stimulate our economy, and protect folks’ jobs. We need to lower the temperature in the room and realize that reopening our nation will require a dynamic, multifaceted approach, and I look forward to working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to reopen America.”
Co-Chair Tom Reed from New York says the group conducted multiple virtual meetings, hosting tremendous dialogue to create the “well thought out, substantive” plans of the checklist.
Member David Joyce from Ohio said that as the group “approached uncharted territory,” they realized it was “a two-headed monster” of both health concerns and back to business, but admitted it will not be a “one-size fits all” plan, as he called for establishing a supply chain for America, saying “it’s time to take off the red jerseys and the blue jerseys and put on the red, white, and blue jersey,” which is what the Problem Solvers Caucus is all about.
Member Bill Johnson also from Ohio said, “Our system of government was never designed to move quickly,” but in this digital age, “we have got to create a way to be nimble, quick and responsive.”
Michigan’s Debbie Dingell, who is in constant contact with Fred Upton several times a day by phone despite being on opposite sides of not only the state but the political aisle, addressed the “raw feelings and downright terror” of constituents and recent beginnings of protests across the nation, by asking rhetorically, “How do we protect the common good” in America.
The Problem Solvers Caucus is a bipartisan group in Congress comprised of 50 members – equally divided between Democrats and Republicans – who are committed to forging bipartisan cooperation on key issues. Upton serves as a vice chair.
