In response to last week’s numbers showing improving but still catastrophically high 730,000 new filings for unemployment, Protect Our Care’s Coronavirus War Room Director Zac Petkanas released the following statement:
“Republican lawmakers are huddling together in an effort to derail President Biden’s American Rescue Plan – which is overwhelmingly popular with Democrats, Independents, and Republicans – while unemployment numbers remain at crisis levels.
“Despite the small improvements, this week’s numbers represent hundreds of thousands of American families struggling to figure out how to put food on the table. To really make a difference in their lives, we need to pass this stimulus package as soon as humanly possible. It’s the only proposal that includes the necessary direct stimulus payments, expanded unemployment insurance, housing assistance, and funds for a national testing and vaccine distribution effort that will finally get these dual crises under control.
“Millions of Americans have been financially wiped out by this crisis. But rather than help them, Congressional Republicans are playing political games with their lives and livelihoods just to stick it to President Biden and prevent him from getting any Republican votes. They’re the ones that’ll have to answer for it with the American people.”