Rep. Val Demings (D-Fl.) is urging lawmakers to reach an agreement on the next COVID-19 relief package during Congress’s lame duck session.
The Washington Post’s Robert Costa asked Demings what the chances are of a COVID-19 relief bill during the lame duck session and whether House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) will move quickly on another round of legislation.
“The American people are suffering as a result of this pandemic. They’ve lost their jobs. They’re worried about keeping a roof over their heads and food on the table. Many small businesses have closed, too many of them have closed their doors permanently,” Demings said.
She added, “I hope that we have the political will to come together and get a relief package done for the American people.”
Watch her remarks below:
.@RepValDemings says she hopes passing a stimulus package during the lame-duck session will be the #1 priority. "I hope we have the political will to come together and get a relief package done for the American people." https://t.co/4vbNQVJDhL pic.twitter.com/frzuIEcHTF
— Washington Post Live (@PostLive) November 5, 2020
She noted it has been six months since lawmakers passed the Democratic-crafted HEROES Act.
“We know that it’s sitting on the majority leader, in the Senate’s desk with no action. We can get this done and I hope that when we return back to Washington that that will be our number one priority,” Demings said.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) suggested on Friday, new COVID-19 legislation should not be considered until early 2021, as IJR previously reported.
“I think that will be something we’ll need to do right at the beginning of the year, targeted particularly at small businesses that are struggling and hospitals that are now dealing with a second wave of the coronavirus,” McConnell said.
He continued, “We probably need to do another package.”
Pelosi said during an interview with MSNBC she does not want to wait too long before passing something for Americans.
“Certainly we’ll have something at the start of the new presidency, but we don’t want to wait that long because people have needs,” she said.