10.21.20

Durbin On McConnell COVID-19 Bill: An Effort To Find Political Cover, Not Real Help

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today slammed Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) partisan COVID-19 relief proposal as “an effort that throws that five-foot rope to a man drowning 30 feet from shore,” and spoke about the importance of helping unemployed and uninsured Americans, hospitals and health clinics, state and local governments, schools, and small businesses amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.  Durbin also urged Leader McConnell to start negotiating in good faith – as the Senate did in March when it passed the CARES Act – with Congressional Democrats on a bipartisan COVID-19 relief bill that provides meaningful assistance to Americans in need.

“If we don’t [pass a bill], the Chairman of the Federal Reserve warns us, and other economists as well, that we're going to slump into an even worse recession, even more unemployment, even more businesses failing. That appears to be what Senator McConnell is prepared to accept, but we're not. Those of us who were sent here to deal with the real problems and challenges for Americans realize we need more than just an effort that throws that five-foot rope to a man drowning 30 feet from shore. That is the McConnell approach,” Durbin said. “Let's do something that makes a difference in the lives of people and helps them. Let's deal with this coronavirus directly and let's help those who are suffering with job loss and struggling to make ends meet get through this crisis themselves.”

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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