Trump is muzzling independent oversight & putting the wealthy & well-connected first when handing out COVID-19 funds. Congress can fix that. @SenBlumenthal, @ChrisCoons, @RepJayapal, @RepSarbanes & I have new legislation to #StopCOVIDCorruption: abcnews.go.com/Politics/democ…
Step 1: No more conflicts of interest in who gets relief funds & who distributes them. We should make the White House task force disclose their financial interests, stop relief money from going to insiders, & padlock the revolving door to prevent bribes. #StopCOVIDCorruption
Step 2: Empower & protect the Inspectors General so the President can’t fire them without good cause. The President must inform Congress when an IG is removed, an investigation should be triggered, & the position should be filled by the IG’s first assistant. #StopCOVIDCorruption
Step 3: Strengthen the Congressional Oversight Commission tasked with oversight of the CARES Act bailout. They need subpoena power for all testimony & documents, & their work should be expanded to include @SBAgov’s troubled Paycheck Protection Program. #StopCOVIDCorruption
Step 4: Empower CARES Act independent watchdogs. If Treasury doesn't comply with their oversight, Congress should be told & Mnuchin shouldn't get paid. And if Mnuchin lies to Congress, he should be liable for perjury. #StopCOVIDCorruption
Step 5: Protect whistleblowers. Workers who witness COVID-19 waste, fraud, or abuse – or are victims of misconduct – should be protected from retaliation for reporting it. We must make it safe & secure for whistleblowers to submit complaints. #StopCOVIDCorruption
Step 6: Restrict lobbying & political spending. Lobbyists must disclose work related to COVID-19. No closed door meetings or calls. And any company bailed out should be banned from lobbying or political spending for at least a year after the loan is repaid. #StopCOVIDCorruption
Step 7: Hold bailout recipients accountable. Create extreme transparency around how companies spend their bailout money & how it helps workers. And if companies violate their bailout terms, strip CEOs of their salaries & allow workers to sue the company. #StopCOVIDCorruption
We must hold the Trump administration accountable as they hand out trillions of COVID-19 relief dollars & stop more government-sanctioned profiteering & corruption. That’s why Congress must include our bill to #StopCOVIDCorruption in the next relief bill. warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press…
