Congress passed a $900 billion relief package for struggling families, small businesses, and students last night. However, it’s nowhere near what is needed to pull the United States out of the worst economic crisis since the Great Recession.
Read what Congressional and state leaders are saying about the need for additional relief:
- Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY): “Clearly, there is more to be done –this is not a stimulus this is an EMERGENCY SURVIVAL bill, and we will fight for more relief under President Biden, because this crisis is not over.”
- Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA): “While we celebrate these key wins, we know that this is just a first step and that more is required to support San Francisco families. We look forward to working with the Biden-Harris Administration to advance relief that honors our state and local heroes on the frontlines of this crisis, crushes the virus and protects the health and well-being of all Americans.”
- Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA): “I don’t think anyone would say our work is done. Not by a long shot. We still have dramatically more we need to do to get our communities through this pandemic and build a stronger, fairer, future for everyone.”
- Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL): “As we continue to face this unprecedented public health crisis, I believe that more funding will be needed. But this emergency relief will help us weather a tough winter ahead and should be signed by President Trump without delay.”
- Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI): “This survival package is long overdue…While I am relieved that short-term help is on the way, more must be done in the New Year to make sure Michigan families and businesses have the help they need.”
- Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH): “This is a step in the right direction, and additional investment will be needed to help Ohioans weather this storm. I look forward to working with the incoming Biden administration to defeat this virus and rebuild our economy.”
- Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV): “Although Congress stepped up today in a bipartisan way to provide some important things – more money for vaccine distribution, an extension of expanded unemployment insurance benefits and pandemic unemployment assistance, support for our live entertainment industry, and stimulus checks for those most in need — including for mixed-status families — more needs to be done.”
- Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI): “I am voting for the bipartisan COVID-19 relief legislation because Wisconsin needs help and it’s essential that Congress provide some now before the end of the year. But our job is not done responding to this public health and economic crisis.”
- Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ): “This bill is a step in the right direction, but there’s more work left to be done. It is clear that Congress will need to provide additional aid in the months to come.”
- Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL): “After McConnell, Trump and Republicans stonewalled Democrats for months, we were finally able to reach a deal that would provide some relief to hardworking Americans—while also avoiding a government shutdown. But let’s be clear: it’s not enough.”
- Sen. Angus King (I-ME): “This bill will do a lot of good, for a lot of people, but it is not enough for us to fully overcome the health and economic challenges our nation faces when this bill expires,”
- Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC): “While today’s vote to provide relief to families who are suffering due to circumstances far beyond their control is welcome, it is long overdue and insufficient to fully meet their needs. This package must be viewed only as a down payment.”
- Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY): “The COVID-19 relief package provides desperately needed assistance. To everyday Americans confronting homelessness, hunger & unemployment. But it’s merely a down payment on what needs to happen. We begin to write the next bill today. So President Biden can sign it into law.”
- Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA): “This bill is way too late and way too little, but it does extend a bridge to a brighter tomorrow when the incoming Biden administration will work with the House to advance policies grounded in science and compassion.”
- Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME): “This relief legislation could have and should have happened months ago, and it’s sad that congressional leaders let partisan interests get in the way of agreeing to an earlier deal. In 2021, Congress needs to step up and lead the country through this pandemic and get our economy back on track.”
- Governor Phil Murphy (D-NJ): “No one should fall into the false sense that the job is done — it is not. This is no time for half-measures, and we cannot keep finding ourselves back at the beginning once each round of support dries up before the pandemic is tamed.”
- Governor Jay Inslee (D-WA): “Make no mistake — this package can only be considered a down-payment on the relief needed to fully recover from this pandemic.”
- Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI): “I’m glad Congress was able to work together to get this done, but there is more work to do.”
- Governor Jared Polis (D-CO): “I’m thankful to the majority of Colorado’s federal delegation who worked to pass this bipartisan COVID relief package and continue to urge Washington to provide additional help to those in need.”