Release; JOHNSON, MANCHIN, COLLINS, WARNER, CASSIDY, SHAHEEN, MURKOWSKI, KING, ROMNEY, HASSAN ANNOUNCE BIPARTISAN, BICAMERAL COVID-19EMERGENCY RELIEF FRAMEWORK 

JOHNSON, MANCHIN, COLLINS, WARNER, CASSIDY, SHAHEEN, MURKOWSKI, KING, ROMNEY, HASSAN ANNOUNCE BIPARTISAN, BICAMERAL COVID-19EMERGENCY RELIEF FRAMEWORK 

Representatives Gottheimer, Reed, Gonzalez, Phillips, Spanberger, and Upton from the Problem Solvers Caucus also joined the bipartisan, bicameral announcement

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Susan Collins (R-ME), Mark Warner (D-VA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Angus King (I-ME), Mitt Romney (R-UT), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Representatives Gottheimer (D-NJ-5), Tom Reed (R-NY-23), Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH-16), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Dean Phillips (D-MN-3), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-7), and Fred Upton (R-MI-6) of the Problem Solvers Caucus announced a bipartisan, bicameral COVID-19 emergency relief framework that will help American students, families, businesses, workers, and health care providers during this crisis. The Problem Solvers Caucus, made up of 25 Democrats and 25 Republicans, helped draft and endorsed the package.

A breakdown of the COVID-19 emergency relief framework can be found here.

“Our nation’s top economists have made it clear: Congress needs to act sooner than later on targeted focused relief,” said Rep. Dusty Johnson (SD-AL). “I’m proud to be a part of this bipartisan, bicameral group that’s put much-needed relief before politics. More than half of these dollars have been repurposed from CARES Act funding – it’s a responsible proposal. Our teachers, healthcare workers, business owners, and producers continue to step up as we battle COVID-19, it’s time Congress does too.”

“Millions of Americans have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and are hurting, but Congress has been deadlocked for months with both sides unwilling to compromise to help our fellow Americans who are in desperate need,” Senator Manchin said. “The bipartisan, bicameral framework announced today proves that we can reach across the aisle and create meaningful compromise that will help those who need it most for the next few months. Our $908 billion framework provides our front line healthcare providers, students, families, small businesses, and workers with the support they need and deserve during this devastating pandemic. I urge my fellow colleagues to work with our bipartisan, bicameral group on this proposal so Congress can finally pass an emergency COVID-19 relief package to help Americans and West Virginians during this difficult stretch of the pandemic.”

“This bipartisan, bicameral group worked night and day throughout the Thanksgiving recess because we recognize that families all across America are struggling, that businesses are closing, and that hospitals are overwhelmed,” said Senator Collins. “I am particularly pleased that this package includes funding for another round of Paycheck Protection Program forgivable loans, which has helped keep our small businesses afloat.  In Maine alone, the PPP has helped sustain the jobs of 250,000 workers.”

“After many days of bipartisan negotiations, I’m proud that we’ve reached a compromise to help Americans get through the holiday season, while providing much-needed relief for small businesses, local governments, health care providers, and low-income and minority communities, among others,” said Senator Warner. “I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to put the months of stalled negotiations behind us, and to support this bipartisan compromise in order to ensure that families across the country are not forced to spend the holiday unable to put food on the table.”

“This is a bipartisan, bicameral effort that creates a pathway forward to bring relief to those who need it most. Republicans and Democrats in both chambers got much of what we wanted, and neither got everything we wanted. That combination reflects what Congress is supposed to do: reconcile priorities and deliver for the American people,” said Dr. Cassidy. 

“Throughout New Hampshire – from small businesses struggling to make payroll to hospitals fighting to keep their doors open and beds available – I’m hearing from Granite Staters who cannot wait any longer. And they shouldn’t. Over a quarter of a million Americans have died from COVID and more than 13.5 million Americans have been afflicted with it. The human toll of this crisis is crushing – and that’s before we even address the severe economic fallout it created,” said Senator Shaheen. “Some of those hardest hit have been our small businesses. When this body came together in March, we worked in good-faith to deliver the CARES Act that provided immediate relief through the Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. We put our heads together again and have come up with a new bipartisan framework to build on that progress to help small businesses get to the other side of this crisis, and to provide funds for state and local government governments, support for vaccine development and distribution, assistance for our schools and universities, and relief for our health care providers. But this is just step one. We need more leaders on both sides of the aisle to join us so we can finish what we’ve started and deliver the relief that Americans are calling for.”

“I am honored to work with an exceptional group of Senators, as well as colleagues in the House, on a bipartisan measure to help respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In my home state of Alaska, Anchorage is officially going into our third round of hunker-down orders, shutting down businesses, restaurants, bars, hair salons, gyms—essentially bringing to a halt the day-to-day life of many people in Anchorage. Many of our rural villages and off road communities are also in various stages of shutdown to control the spread of this awful virus.  These lockdowns come at a significant cost. As the long winter approaches, the uncertainties of job loss, food insecurity, and stable housing all continue to grow,” said Senator Murkowski. “Our response – our responsibility – is to come together not as Republicans with a plan or Democrats with a counter-plan, but coming together with a proposal that will provide for targeted emergency relief for the American people. I am calling on my colleagues to join us in advancing the proposal we offer today, to provide much-needed relief for our nation.”

“After nearly nine months of the coronavirus pandemic and far too little federal support, millions of Americans are facing financial ruin. It’s past time for Congress to put political arguments aside and step up for those in need,” said Senator King. “If enacted into law, today’s bipartisan package would increase unemployment benefits to help families make ends meet, give essential assistance to small businesses on the verge of closing, provide funds to the state and local governments who’ve led the response to this crisis, and much more – including support for schools, hospitals, and vaccine distribution. This plan isn’t perfect, and will require future Congressional action in order to help our country fully weather this pandemic – but if we pass this bill before the year’s end, we’ll extend a lifeline to millions of Americans in need just as cases are spiking, CARES Act protections are expiring, and winter is arriving. The American people need us to work together to save lives and livelihoods – so let’s get it done.”

“This is not a $1.8 trillion stimulus bill. This is a relief measure half that amount—$908 billion, with $560 billion in repurposed funds from the first CARES Act, so the amount of new money is actually $348 billion,” Senator Romney said. “Included in this measure is a liability provision that provides a temporary suspension of any liability-related lawsuits at the state or federal level associated with COVID-19, giving states enough time to put in place their own protections. I am very pleased to be part of this effort, and urge my colleagues to come together on a deal. 

“Our bipartisan COVID-19 emergency relief framework provides the most viable path forward in months, and we must seize this opportunity now to provide critical relief for the American people,” Senator Hassan said. “I am grateful to my colleagues from both parties for coming together on this bipartisan effort, and I will do everything I can to get a deal across the finish line. 

“This is a win for the American people, for common sense, and for problem solving. With cases spiking, winter around the corner, and countless small businesses closing every day, and far too many families hurting, we simply cannot leave anyone out in the cold. This is an essential down payment on what our families, small businesses, and local communities need,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), Co-Chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus. “This four-month COVID-19 emergency relief package will get us through the hardest months of winter and into a new Administration.”

“For far too long, working families, small businesses, local governments, critical health care providers, and school districts across America have been left wondering when Washington would stop the partisan bickering and pass a comprehensive stimulus package,” said Congressman Tom Reed (NY-23), Co-Chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus. “Now, we have a bipartisan, bicameral deal that directly addresses the needs of the nation and best positions the country for an effective rollout of a COVID-19 vaccine. It’s time to come together as proud Americans and get the job done.”

“With the development of multiple successful vaccines, we are on the cusp of beating covid-19 and restoring our way of life, but we are not there yet. This sensible, bipartisan, bicameral proposal will provide those most in need with the bridge necessary to see us through this crisis. The time to act is now,” said Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (OH-16).

“The need is great, the time is short, and the urgency is real. Our bipartisan, bicameral working group has found common ground, and now Congress must begin restoring faith in our government by passing an emergency COVID relief measure before year’s end,” said Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-3).

“Working families, small businesses, restaurant owners, and our communities need relief — and Congress must act. The failure to provide that relief over the last several months has been shameful, especially given that there are relief provisions and programs that are supported by both parties and both chambers of Congress, and most importantly, needed by the American people and our economy,” said Rep. Abigail Spanberger (VA-7). “This bipartisan, bicameral package reflects the priorities of the Seventh District — including funding for unemployment assistance, PPP, food assistance programs and our district’s farmers, rental assistance, broadband internet, and opioid treatment. Today we have demonstrated that we can unite around a common purpose in the face of a national emergency, and I urge my colleagues — as well as House and Senate leadership — to bring this package forward for a vote.”

“Michigan just had the deadliest month from COVID-19 since the pandemic begin. I hear daily from constituents who are struggling to make ends meet. Congress should not go home until we are able to get a COVID-19 deal passed and signed, delivering real help to those who need it most. It’s time for us to step up, and our colleagues need to get behind this effort or out of the way,” said Rep. Fred Upton (MI-6)

To watch a recording of today’s press conference, please click here.

 

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31 thoughts on “Release; JOHNSON, MANCHIN, COLLINS, WARNER, CASSIDY, SHAHEEN, MURKOWSKI, KING, ROMNEY, HASSAN ANNOUNCE BIPARTISAN, BICAMERAL COVID-19EMERGENCY RELIEF FRAMEWORK ”

  1. Thune wrote a couple of weeks ago wanting a compromise. A compromise has now been proposed so he should support it.

  2. Amazon, Walmart, and all the other mega corporations that have benefited from lockdowns should shoulder the entire burden for additional stimulus.

  3. Not one conservative in that headline. Everyone you see listed is known as a moderate; Romney; Manchin, Murkowski and Collins are the most squishy on both sides in the senate.

      1. Actually, the data disagrees with you. Look at most any Conservative Scorecard. I just took a look at lifetime scores from FreedomWorks.

        Rounds 51%
        Noem 62%
        Thune 62%
        Dusty 78%

        It’s not even close.

        1. easy to vote no on meaningless votes in the minority like Dusty has…listen to his speeches, I voted no…meanwhile everything passed anyway

  4. This is just another attempt to low ball America and bail out big business.
    Nothing will happen until the two new Democratic Senators from Georgia are seated.
    Biden knows the game. Time to be straight and forward, again!

    1. So you think things will be better with Crooked Joe in there? Boy, what a laugh! Joe can’t remember his own name and his veep is a rotten socialist.

    1. That’s kind of the beauty of what Dusty has proposed. Of the $900b, it looks like almost 2/3 is unspent money from the last package.

  5. $5b for opiod treatment!? How the h*ll does that apply to covid relief for struggling families? Make Purdue and McKinsey pay for opiod treatment and raise the amount allocated to student loans from $5b to $10b.

    1. What does paying off student loans equate with covid relief???? Unless they are also going to rebate the money to students who HAVE paid their loans? After all, dems are all about equality and fairness, right???

      1. Springer you nailed the juxtaposition of identity politics in both Liberal and Conservative mantra.

    2. In case you haven’t kept up with current events… during the pandemic, opioid abuse and addiction rates have skyrocketed. People struggling with additions are also apart of families.

      I also think you could spend 15 billion and get rid of most student aid debt across the country. This would allow people to spend more of the earned income at small businesses or in their local communities instantly generating much needed taxable income for local and state governments. Why not?

      1. So you want taxpayers that didn’t go to college pay for the ones that did?
        No wonder the blue collar working class wants nothing to do with the democrat party.
        You want to go to college?
        Figure out what you can afford and go. I did.
        That will really make college cheaper (Sarcasm)
        Then colleges can charge whatever they want. Stupid

        1. Do tax payers who didn’t go to college still go to doctors, dentists, use seed from geneticists to support for their families, learn from teachers that often have multiple degrees?

          While some people don’t have any college or advanced degrees, society overall benefits when people get educated. There’s no bigger step that South Dakota could do to keep it’s educated youth in the state then removing another barrier to staying here, than college debt.

          South Dakota has some of the lowest wages in the country. Yes, it’s cheap to live here, but not when you have more than +$50,000 in student loans. And you cannot guess what students who have debt, will get into professions that will undoubtedly benefit small, rural, and remote towns.

          I’m glad you were able to go to college when it probably cost less to do so, then a small sedan does today. College tuition has far surpassed the rate of inflation and the middle class has shrunk. Additionally, there are not enough blue collar jobs to support your creed that you should only go if you can afford it.

          Also, I’m not a Democrat – I’m a Republican. An educated society is a prosperous society.

          1. Then you pay for it.
            The more government “pays” for something the more expensive it becomes. I highly doubt your republican credentials.
            Society paying for your choices isn’t conservative. I call BS.

          2. “Do tax payers who didn’t go to college still go to doctors, dentists, use seed from geneticists to support for their families, learn from teachers that often have multiple degrees?”

            Well, by that logic then, why don’t we have the tax payers pay for trucks for all the long-haul truckers? After all, you eat don’t you? Without truck drivers supplies don’t get delivered to the grocery store. Heck, why don’t we just have the government pay for everything and supply all that is needed to live…..oh wait, that was tried. It was called the USSR.

      2. By your logic, if the govt paid off my car loan or paid my mortgage or paid off my credit card, I would have more money to spend locally too. That, however, is not their responsibility …it is mine. I chose to borrow the money, I owe it. I have no right to ask my neighbor to pay it off.

        1. The average cost of a 4-year degree is now something like $26,000. Adjusted for inflation, that same degree 30 years ago was $13,000.

          The average home price is now $320,000. Adjusted for inflation, that same house 30 years ago was $89,000.

          Millennials can’t afford college. They can’t afford a house. You wonder why they’re pissed? It’s easy to say you scored a homerun back in the day, but comparatively, you started on 3rd base.

          1. “but comparatively, you started on 3rd base.”

            You ignored a likewise comparison for the wages of 30 years ago versus the wages for the same job, same level of experience of today. When taking that into consideration, the 3rd base start you refer to is smoke and mirrors.

        2. Anonymous: Renters get the same benefit as the mortgage interest deduction of your landlord essentially indirectly keeps your rent down. Additionally, if your landlord couldn’t deduct and depreciate (a benefit your landlord has to pass on to you that homeowners don’t get), not only would rents be higher, there would be less rental properties for you to choose from.

          Ike: The average home 30 years ago was 1,000 ft. less than the average home, it didn’t have all the amenities and safety features in new houses today. Look up a 30 year old house which cost $89,000 and I’ll bet it isn’t $320,000 (even in Sioux Falls).

          General to the concept: While we had the fastest growth ever in median US household income during the Trump years pre-covid, it is $68,000. The median US household income with a member with a college degree is over $100,000.

          Personally, you go ahead and argue people with high school degrees whose median income is $48,000 that college graduates need their college free. Make it a central plank of your campaign. The people will collectively tell you to pay your own way, I guarantee it.

          Further, when I see the quality of college graduates today, just because you are getting screwed don’t expect me to pay for it. You need to demand a better product.

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