As the coronavirus cases surge around the U.S., Congress is facing increasing pressure to pass another stimulus package to help Americans facing financial hardship due to shutdowns aimed at slowing the spread of the virus.
While President Donald Trump has previously said he believes that lawmakers would pass “the best” stimulus package after the election, Republicans and Democrats have failed to reach a deal on the scope of any potential package.
Meanwhile, the president made few public appearances and continues to baselessly claim that he won the election and that there was widespread voter fraud that titled the results in President-elect Joe Biden’s favor.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) blasted the Trump administration and Senate Republicans for continuing to raise questions about the integrity of the election.
“It is an outrage that Senate Republicans and the impeached president’s administration are more focused on undermining our election integrity and faith in our democracy rather than delivering relief to millions of Americans,” Tlaib said on Wednesday.
She noted that there are more than 20 million Americans who are unemployed, and 8 million have fallen below the poverty level since the virus ravaged the country.
Additionally, the lawmaker noted that due to the fact that enhanced unemployment insurance lapsed over the summer, Americans in her district are receiving a maximum of $362 per week from unemployment benefits.
Under the stimulus package passed in spring, Americans received an additional $600 per week. However, funding for the enhanced benefits expired at the end of July.
Finally, she argued that new shutdowns are necessary to slow the spread of the virus as well as “strong reoccurring federal support.”
Watch the video below:
Rep. @RashidaTlaib: "It is an outrage that Senate Republicans and the impeached President's administration are more focused on undermining our election integrity and faith in our democracy rather than delivering relief to millions of Americans." pic.twitter.com/xQCPbjhJ4A
— The Hill (@thehill) November 18, 2020
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) penned a letter on Tuesday to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) urging him to work to pass another stimulus bill.
“The time to act is upon us like never before. The COVID-19 pandemic and economic recession will not end without our help. It is essential that this bill have sufficient funding and delivers meaningful relief to the many Americans who are suffering,” the Democratic leaders wrote.
They added, “For the sake of the country, we ask that you come to the table and work with us to produce an agreement that meets America’s needs in this critical time.”
However, McConnell said in a tweet on Tuesday that he would like to pass a “targeted rescue package” instead of the Democratic crafted $3.4 trillion bill.
Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives in December 2019 for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress and acquitted by the Senate in February 2020.
Since the election, only four Republican senators have publicly congratulated Biden on winning the election, while others argue it is too early to declare a winner. They have also been reluctant to rebuff the president’s allegations of fraud.
And some administration officials have claimed that Trump will serve for another four years.
However, on Tuesday, several Republican senators were seen congratulating vice president-elect Kamala Harris on the Senate floor.
