Senate Democrats blocked a new proposal Monday from Congressional Republicans that would have secured an additional $250 billion in aid for small businesses during the Coronavirus pandemic.
“A $250 billion urgent request to shore up a depleting small business fund failed to pass the Senate Thursday after Democrats objected to the measure pushed by the White House and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
“With lawmakers home and social distancing, McConnell sought to pass the cash infusion swiftly Thursday by unanimous consent with a skeleton group of senators, but Democrats blocked the effort because they want add-ons to help businesses in disadvantaged communities and an additional $250 billion in funds for other priorities,” reports Fox News.
“The stalemate in the Senate comes as a record-breaking number of Americans have filed for unemployment with the economy shutting down nationwide under stay-at-home orders. New jobless numbers out Thursday morning show a total of 16.6 million Americans have filed for unemployment benefits in the last three weeks,” adds Fox.
“To my Democratic colleagues, please do not block emergency aid you do not even oppose just because you want something more,” McConnell pleaded.
Read the full report at Fox News.
AOC: Senate’s Coronavirus Stimulus Package is ‘Historic Corporate Giveaway’
Controversial Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ripped the Senate’s Coronavirus stimulus package Wednesday afternoon; describing the proposal as a “historic corporate giveaway” at the expense of American workers.
“Just a reminder that there is absolutely no good reason why Senate Republicans are tying a historic corporate giveaway to getting relief money in the hands of families. They could just authorize sending checks to families today, right now, & deal with the rest. But they refuse,” posted Ocasio-Cortez on social media.
Just a reminder that there is absolutely no good reason why Senate Republicans are tying a historic corporate giveaway to getting relief money in the hands of families.
They could just authorize sending checks to families today, right now, & deal with the rest. But they refuse.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 25, 2020
Members of the ‘Squad’ demanded a series of far-left proposals be included in the Congressional relief package to help Coronavirus victims this week; asking for the cancellation of student debt, banning of evictions, and prohibition of “executive bonuses” in the plan.
“Any rescue package must:
1) Cancel student debt
2) Fund losses for small businesses and local governments
3) Ban evictions and foreclosures
4) Ban stock buybacks and executive bonuses
We need a groundswell of support for these critical measures!” posted Omar on social media.
“The developments of this Senate relief bill are concerning. We are hearing lots of vague statements, but not a single member of Congress has seen actual bill text. It seems to give a *HALF TRILLION DOLLARS* away to big corporations, w/ few worker protections. Half a trillion,” added Rep. Ocasio-Cortez.
Any rescue package must:
1) Cancel student debt
2) Fund losses for small businesses and local governments
3) Ban evictions and foreclosures
4) Ban stock buybacks and executive bonusesWe need a groundswell of support for these critical measures!
Call your Rep: (202) 224-3121 https://t.co/3OCo9LbSsk
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) March 24, 2020
The White House and leaders in the US Senate agreed to a $2 trillion stimulus package to help businesses impacted by the Coronavirus Wednesday; unveiling a sweeping bipartisan plan to shore-up the economy and protect American workers.
“The White House and Senate leaders of both parties announced agreement early Wednesday on an unprecedented $2 trillion emergency bill to rush sweeping aid to businesses, workers and a health care system slammed by the coronavirus pandemic,” reports the Associated Press.
“To the American people, we say, big help, quick help is on the way,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
The proposal now heads to the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives.
“House Democrats will now review the final provisions and legislative text of the agreement to determine a course of action,” said Speaker Pelosi.
“After days of intense discussions, the Senate has reached a bipartisan agreement on a historic relief package for this pandemic,” said Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. “It will rush new resources onto the front lines of our nation’s health care fight. And it will inject trillions of dollars of cash into the economy as fast as possible to help Americans workers, families, small businesses and industries make it through this disruption and emerge on the other side ready to soar.”
Read the full report here.
Source: Associated Press
‘COMFORT’ ARRIVES: US Navy Hospital Ship Arrives in New York Harbor to Help Deal with Coronavirus
The United States Navy Hospital Ship Comfort arrived in New York Harbor Monday morning to help the nation’s largest city cope with the ongoing Coronavirus crisis.
“There she is,” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said as the ship arrived at Manhattan’s Pier 90.
“If there is ever a time that we need to work together it is today,” he added. “The president is right – this is a war. And what does this nation do when it’s at war? It comes together and it acts as one.”
“This great ship behind me is a 70,000-ton message of hope and solidarity to the incredible people of New York, a place I know very well, a place I love,” said President Trump as the ship left Virginia. “We’re here for you. We’re fighting for you and we’re with you all the way and we always will be.”
LIVE: pulling into #NYC, the @USNavy’s #USNS COMFORT.
https://t.co/XJz0aicVZA— @EsperDoD (@EsperDoD) March 30, 2020
“I’ve been speaking with a number of my colleagues, governors all across the nation, Democrats and Republicans – I’ve said the same message to all of them. What you see happening in New York is not unique,” said Governor Cuomo. “Yes, we are more dense. Yes, we are bigger than most places, but, this virus spreads among Americans. This virus does not discriminate. It does not discriminate by age, it does not discriminate by party, it infects all Americans. And what you are seeing in New York is going to spread across this country.”
Read the full report here.
Source: Fox News