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[Pages S3629-S3630]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CORONAVIRUS
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, finally, on COVID-19, unfortunately,
COVID-19 continues to surge in several States. Florida, Texas, and
Arizona are reporting new highs in case numbers. Last Friday, there
were 45,000 new cases nationwide--the most in a single day.
As the public health crisis continues, our country is facing one of
the greatest economic challenges since the Great Depression. Over one-
fifth of the workforce has requested unemployment assistance. State and
local Tribal governments are on life support and have laid off over 1.6
million workers. Our perennially underfunded schools are fighting an
uphill battle to prepare for the fall.
As Americans struggle to make rent payments and face potential
evictions, as our healthcare and childcare systems face unprecedented
burdens, Senate Republicans have been missing in action. Senate
Republicans equal MIA.
Over a month ago, Leader McConnell said that Senate the Republicans
``have yet to feel the urgency of acting immediately.'' It seems like
he really meant it. It has been nearly 3 months since we passed the
CARES Act on a bipartisan basis, 96 to 0, and over 45 days since the
House passed the Heroes Act--legislation that would deliver sorely
needed resources to States, essential workers, American families, and
our healthcare system, but Leader McConnell continues to say that
Republicans ``need to assess the conditions in the country'' and
insists that
[[Page S3630]]
any future emergency relief bill will be written in his office.
Assess the conditions of the country when we have more unemployment
than any time since the Great Depression? When a pandemic is killing
tens of thousands of Americans monthly, ignore that and assess the
conditions? And then for Leader McConnell to say the bill will be
written in his office, has he learned any lessons on COVID 2, COVID 3,
COVID 3.5, the Justice in Policing Act? When you try to do something
major on a partisan basis, nothing happens, and America desperately
needs something to happen.
Leader McConnell knows he has to negotiate if he wants to pass
legislation. He has been around here a long time. He knows that. His
refusal to engage in bipartisan talks on policing reform shows that
maybe our Republican friends are not interested in passing bipartisan
legislation, but that is what needs to happen--bipartisan negotiations
on policing reform and bipartisan negotiations on COVID.
This morning, Speaker Pelosi and I sent a letter to Leader McConnell
urging him to join Democrats at the negotiating table for the next
round of COVID-19 relief legislation.
We are on the precipice of several deadlines: For millions upon
millions of Americans, another rent payment is due this week. States
are planning their budgets right now before the new fiscal year on July
1. The emergency boost in unemployment will run out by the end of next
month.
This week, Senate Democrats will force action on the floor on some of
the most urgently needed measures to help working Americans, starting
this evening, when Democrats will ask consent to pass crucial Federal
support for State, local, and Tribal governments.
I will have more to say about this issue this evening, but I do want
my Republican colleagues to hear the words of State and local officials
across the country.
Today, the Big 7 national associations representing Governors,
mayors, State legislatures, counties, and city managers--all bipartisan
groups, with many Republican Members coming from the deepest red States
to the darkest blue--wrote the Senate a letter pleading--pleading for
Federal support and warning of dire consequences of delay. These are
the seven organizations representing Governors and legislatures and
counties and towns and cities.
Here is what they write:
Previous federal bills responding to COVID-19 provided
important support . . . yet none allow for the replacement of
billions of lost revenue due to COVID-19. More robust and
direct stimulus is needed for State and local governments to
both rebuild the economy and maintain essential services in
education, health care, emergency operations, public safety
and more.
Months have gone by and our communities continue to suffer.
Americans have a history of standing together in times of
crisis and must do so now.
Republican colleagues, please listen to those words. Leader
McConnell, please listen. These are your own States that are included
here. They are demanding relief. To say we still don't see an urgent
need, to say maybe we will get around to it in a month, to say the
legislation will be written in McConnell's office--all setting up for
failure and the desperately needed lack of relief that America needs.
I yield the floor.
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