Whether Republicans will support President Joe Biden’s coronavirus relief package or not, Democrats will move forward on it, Rep. Val Demings (D-Fla.) says.
Speaking with CNN’s Anderson Cooper on Wednesday night, Demings mirrored Biden’s remarks that “we need to go big or go home” on coronavirus relief. She also noted that the president is looking to work in a bipartisan way.
“But he is clearly prepared if we have to go it alone on the Democratic side of the aisle that we are prepared to do that,” Demings said. “To bring much-needed relief to the American people.”
The Democratic lawmaker shared that she is “shocked” by Republican Congress members who “will not join” Biden’s effort.
“We are prepared to go at it alone and I know the President is prepared to get relief to the American people,” she added.
Watch the interview below:
Rep. Val Demings says Democrats and Pres. Biden are prepared to "go at it alone" and push a stimulus package through without GOP support.
— Anderson Cooper 360° (@AC360) February 18, 2021
"We are prepared to go at it alone and I know the President is prepared to get relief to the American people." pic.twitter.com/Q9k5L5bsO2
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) recently declared that the “Senate is moving full steam ahead on a bold plan to get this country out of the crisis.”
Biden is pushing for approval of his $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan. He recently met with a bipartisan group of governors and mayors about it and on Tuesday, he discussed COVID-19 relief with 10 top union leaders.
The president’s relief package includes another $1,400 stimulus check to those eligible, enhanced unemployment aid, additional assistance for small businesses, $350 billion to states and schools, additional support for vaccines and testing, among others.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) predicted earlier this month that final coronavirus relief legislation may pass Congress before March 15.
Demings told Cooper that the House of Representatives would begin the process of passing the relief package next week.
“We are on a fast track to get much needed relief to the American people,” Demings reiterated.
