Handel: The Democrats continue to block much-needed relief for Americans, refusing to even negotiate. They would rather hurt President Trump than help the American people. We need a workable solution that helps hurting families, supports small businesses, and boosts our economy, including: A “re-employment” bonus to get people back to work and businesses reopened; an additional direct payment, rental / mortgage assistance, and child care assistance for lower-income Americans; clarifying that PPP loans are NOT taxable and cracking down on the PPP fraud; liability protections; funding for education options so that all parents can choose the best education for their children as schools remain closed; resources for schools for safety upgrades; forbearance on student loans until the end of the year; and added flexibility for states to spend leftover relief dollars from previous relief bills. Importantly, I support negotiating and achieving a compromise – something Democrats refuse to do.

Handel: Our country has made significant progress in finding consensus, leveraging technology, and advancing balanced environmental policies that have produced water and air quality that is the best it’s been in decades. In Congress, I supported the 2018 Bipartisan Budget Bill that provided enhanced performance-based tax credits to power plants and industrial facilities that capture and store CO2. Looking ahead, we should make this tax credit permanent and lower the captured-carbon qualifying threshold to provide certainty and further incentivize participation. We must also accelerate R&D and deployment of carbon capture technology for natural gas plants; develop a global “innovation sharing” platform to assist other nations in reducing their GHG emissions; and modernize the nation’s water infrastructure. Additionally, we must implement sound forest management policies and strengthen hurricane and fire “resilience” in communities most at risk.

Handel: The high cost of prescription drugs is crushing, especially for our seniors and those with chronic conditions. We need to find ways to lower costs while not hampering medical and drug innovation. Rep. Walden (R-Ore.) introduced HR 19 – which represents a good first step in reforming the drug pricing system to lower costs. HR19 emphasizes price transparency, requiring manufacturers to disclose and explain price increases that exceed 10% in a year or 25% in three years. The bill restructures Medicare Part D benefits to cap out-of-pocket costs at $3,100, exempts insulin out-of-pocket costs from the overall cap, and allows cost-sharing obligations to be spread out over a year. Additionally, we should explore linking price concessions to policies that incentivize innovation and safely streamline the drug approval process; shortening the timelines for drug monopolies; and removing barriers for generic drugs.

Handel: As Secretary of State, I implemented photo ID, and in-person voting with your photo ID remains the best way to ensure a fair, secure, accurate election. Two issues have emerged as we head into November: 1) an efficient process for absentee ballots by mail and 2) the Democrats’ efforts to influence the ballot box from the courtroom. County elections officials MUST be held accountable for conducting the required, triple-signature match for absentee ballots, and the state must be aggressive in stopping illegal “ballot harvesting.” Democrats are attempting to “litigate” the election outcome and won a court decision recently to allow absentee ballots to be received up to 3 days AFTER the election – in direct conflict with state law. Democrats seeking election law changes should pursue them in the legislature – not seek to influence the ballot box in the courts.

Handel: Our economy was the strongest it’s been in decades – with historic low unemployment across every demographic, 7 million new jobs, wages on the rise, record numbers of new businesses, and a significant decline in poverty. Then, COVID-19 hit. Relief has included the PPP loans, $600 per week in enhanced unemployment, and a $1,200 per person direct payment, eviction protection and other provisions that provided much needed assistance to families and businesses. However, with annual unemployment benefits now reaching nearly $50,000 per year, an unintended consequence has emerged. Businesses ready to reopen are now unable to find workers. We need a “return to work” bonus to bring people back into the workforce. And, for those individuals whose jobs have been permanently eliminated, we need to invest in new training programs to assist in career transitions.

Handel: An important part of leadership is weighing competing risks, and that’s what policymakers must do in the face of this crisis. COVID-19 obviously has significant health risks. At the same time, a prolonged economic shutdown brings its own set of serious risks. We must keep people as safe and healthy as possible while ensuring that our economy continues to rebound. That means, continuing the aggressive pursuit of a safe, effective vaccine while also continuing with testing. Meanwhile, all of us should take personal responsibility for our health. If you feel sick or have a fever, stay home. Further, Americans count on policymakers and health experts to be transparent, honest and consistent with data and guidelines, and the media must be more responsible and evenhanded in reporting on this issue.

Handel: Americans were horrified by Floyd’s murder, while Brooks’ death involved different circumstances. Still, these incidents revealed that we have more to do to ensure “justice for all,” despite the progress we’ve made. Justice cannot and will not be achieved through riots, looting, violence, vilifying our police officers, or the “defund the police” movement. We need to strengthen policing by lifting up law enforcement; creating more community connections; adding body cameras; conducting ongoing de-escalation training; and limiting the unions’ ability to shield truly bad officers. This requires more resources – not fewer. And, we must continue our efforts for economic prosperity for everyone by ensuring a good education and the opportunity for a good job. The economic boom prior to COVID-19 lifted more people out of poverty than in decades. That’s why I support low taxes, less regulation, opportunity zones, and school choice.