Durbin Calls on Republican Colleagues to Support President Biden's American Rescue Plan
On Senate floor, Durbin shares story of Illinoisan who continues to struggle to make ends meet due to the pandemic
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on his Republican Senate colleagues to support President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan as they supported former President Trump’s COVID-19 relief packages last year on a bipartisan basis. President Biden’s American Rescue Plan would deliver economic relief to American families and small businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a historic legislative package designed to change the course of the pandemic, get students back to school, give families and small businesses a bridge to an economic recovery, and invest in advancing racial equity.
In his speech on the Senate floor, Durbin shared the story of Galen Henson from Midlothian, Illinois. For 34 years, Galen has supported touring artists through his work in live concert production for some of America’s most iconic musicians. When the American economy was upended by the pandemic, his industry froze to save other’s lives. Like so many, Galen began drawing on unemployment. Yet, even with the federal $600 supplement to state unemployment, only half of Galen’s regular income was replaced. Galen continues to struggle to make ends meet.
“He [Galen] wrote to me urging that we put aside our partisan differences and pass the American Rescue Plan. Let’s listen to Galen and let’s listen to many others like him. They’re counting on us. I hope when all is said and done, after all the speeches, that we come together on a bipartisan basis to pass the [American] Rescue Plan,” Durbin said.
Video of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.
Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.
Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.
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