DSCC spokesperson Stewart Boss issued the following statement on reports that 1.6 million Americans filed new claims for unemployment assistance this past week while Senate Republicans continue to block an extension of emergency unemployment relief:
“Since Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans left for vacation three weeks ago, millions more Americans have filed new unemployment claims, workers are increasingly getting laid off permanently, and experts have warned that ‘more pain is ahead.’ Despite it all, Republicans are still refusing to return from recess to work on urgent relief — leaving millions of hardworking Americans outraged and without the federal help their families need to make ends meet. The decision by Republicans in the Senate to abandon their constituents and refuse to work on passing relief while they took a month-long vacation is indefensible, and it has made this economic crisis worse.”
Senate Republicans created an “urgent crisis” when they let emergency unemployment relief expire over a month ago, and reports this week detailed the increasingly critical need for federal assistance. A Federal Reserve report showed that “furloughed workers [are] increasingly being laid off permanently” as experts warn “the jobs are not going to come back” without “more stimulus from Washington to bolster economic demand and keep business activity and consumer spending growing.”
But despite the grim reports and warnings that the U.S. economy remains at risk, Mitch McConnell and his caucus are refusing to negotiate, and are instead on day 21 of their month-long vacation.
Are Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans still blocking urgently needed relief? Yes.
###
Next Post
