Today, Representative Lois Frankel (FL-21) issued the following statement in response to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s announcement that he will not have a final COVID-19 response package until at least next week. This months-long Republican delay guarantees that this weekend, millions of Americans that rely upon Unemployment Insurance will see their federal benefits expire.

“The Senate’s inaction comes at the expense of American lives and livelihoods. This week, millions of Americans will lose crucial unemployment benefits, will be at risk of eviction, and could be laid off by state and local governments due to budget shortages caused by the delayed, disastrous response to the COVID-19 pandemic by Republican leadership in the Senate and the White House. Two months ago, the House passed the Heroes Act to support our heroes, manage the virus with the testing and tracing needed to reopen safely, and put money in Americans’ pockets. The Senate must act now.”

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