House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is criticizing Republicans for failing to prepare for the expiration of enhanced unemployment benefits this weekend.
Pelosi took to the podium during her press conference on Friday to express her concerns over extending federal jobless benefits.
“We hear calls all the time, people crying on the phone, crying on TV. They’re in pain. It’s about their dignity and how they meet the needs of their children,” Pelosi said.
She added, “And why, and why, because the Republicans are derelict in their duty, taking off for the weekend instead of being ready all these months, without preparing something, to begin with, when we had our offer they make their offer. Now two months and eight, 10 days, have gone by and where are they.”
Check out her comments below:
WATCH: “The Republicans are derelict in their duties, taking off for the weekend instead of being ready … now 2 months have gone by … where are they?”
— Bloomberg Quicktake (@Quicktake) July 24, 2020
.@SpeakerPelosi expresses concern over the urgent matter of extending federal jobless benefits pic.twitter.com/hZ4omOztHf
Pelosi went on to question Republicans on where their offer is after they said they would unveil it this week.
She claimed Republicans are in “disarray” and it is ultimately hurting America’s working families.
Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) released a joint statement taking aim at Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and the White House for the delay of a proposal.
“This weekend, millions of Americans will lose their Unemployment Insurance, will be at risk of being evicted from their homes, and could be laid off by state and local government, and there is only one reason: Republicans have been dithering for months while America’s crisis deepens,” Pelosi and Schumer said.
The CARES Act identifies July 31 as the official end date to these unemployment benefits, but the U.S. Labor Department requires states to pay unemployment benefits no later than the week ending one week before July 31.
Read the full statement below:
Pelosi and Schumer have a new joint statement blaming McConnell-White House "disarray and delay" for the expiration of unemployment insurance and end of the moratorium on evictions this weekend. pic.twitter.com/GtWQ7wTLMc
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) July 24, 2020
The congressional Democratic leaders called on McConnell to stop the “unnecessary” delays and produce a proposal both parties can agree on.
Pelosi and Schumer reiterated it is “unacceptable” for Republicans not to have reached a consensus among themselves.
McConnell said Senate Republicans will unveil their coronavirus proposal next week, as IJR previously reported.
The proposal is said to include additional funding for small businesses, $105 billion for schools, and legal protections for businesses reopening amid the pandemic.
According to a senior Senate aide, the original plan was to include direct payments of $1,200 for individual Americans and $2,400 for couples.
McConnell said the enhanced unemployment benefits would be adjusted so Americans are not paid more to stay at home.
