10.17.20

McConnell on COVID-19 Relief & Senate Schedule

LOUISVILLE, KY- U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) issued the following statement regarding COVID-19 relief:

“Speaker Pelosi has wasted months playing political games with the health and financial security of American families.

“Republicans have tried numerous times to secure bipartisan agreement where possible and get aid out the door while these endless talks continue. But Speaker Pelosi keeps saying she feels “nothing” is better than “something” and clinging to far-left demands that are designed to kill any hope of a deal.

“If Speaker Pelosi ever lets the House reach a bipartisan agreement with the Administration, the Senate would of course consider it. But Americans need help now.

“Working families have spent months waiting for Speaker Pelosi’s Marie Antoinette act to stop. They should not have to wait any longer.

“Next week, Senate Republicans will move to break this logjam. The Senate will vote on hundreds of billions of dollars for targeted relief programs that Democrats do not even claim to oppose.

“Nobody thinks this $500B+ proposal would resolve every problem forever. It would deliver huge amounts of additional help to workers and families right now while Washington keeps arguing over the rest.

This bill would fund things including:

  • More federally-expanded unemployment benefits for laid-off Americans
  • An entire second round of the Paycheck Protection Program to save workers’ jobs at the hardest-hit small businesses
  • $100B+ to make schools safe for kids
  • More testing
  • More tracing
  • More funding for Operation Warp Speed to produce a vaccine
  • More funding to distribute that vaccine across the country

 

“These are just some of the urgent needs that Washington should meet immediately while debates continue over the rest. This is half a trillion dollars of good that Congress can do right now.

 

“It is heartless for Democrats to continue their total blockade of any aid whatsoever unless Speaker Pelosi gets her way on countless non-COVID-related demands.

“The Senate will vote on this bill Wednesday, following a standalone vote on additional PPP funds on Tuesday. If Democrats do not obstruct this legislation, we will have time to pass it before we turn to Judge Barrett’s nomination immediately after it comes out of committee. It is long past time for the two parties to agree where we can and get more money out the door.”

Related Issues: COVID-19