Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is praising President Donald Trump for ultimately deciding to sign the COVID-19 relief bill to provide relief to Americans and funding for the government.
“I applaud President Trump’s decision to get hundreds of billions of dollars of crucial COVID-19 relief out the door and into the hands of American families as quickly as possible,” McConnell wrote in a statement.
He noted the package will assist workers at small businesses, Americans who are unemployed, provide funding for vaccine distribution, and direct payments.
McConnell acknowledged the bill is not “perfect,” but will “do an enormous amount of good” for struggling Americans.
“I thank the President for signing this relief into law, along with full-year government funding legislation that will continue the rebuilding and modernization of our Armed Forces that his Administration has championed,” McConnell added.
He continued, “His leadership has prevented a government shutdown at a time when our nation could not have afforded one.”
I applaud the President’s decision to get billions of dollars of crucial COVID-19 relief out the door and into the hands of American families. I am glad the American people will receive this much-needed assistance as our nation continues battling this pandemic. My full statement: pic.twitter.com/YSPYsPu2ct
— Leader McConnell (@LeaderMcConnell) December 28, 2020
Trump signed the $2.3 trillion package Sunday evening soon after he indicated he would not support it, as IJR previously reported.
Just last week, the president called the bill a “disgrace” and demanded an increase in the amount included in the stimulus checks as well as a cut to other funding.
Americans will receive a new round of unemployment benefits under the bill just after they lapsed on Saturday.
Trump received harsh criticism from some lawmakers prior to his signing of the bill.
On Sunday, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) called Trump’s earlier refusal to sign the bill “unbelievably cruel,” as IJR previously reported.
He urged Trump to sign it and reminded him Congress can pass another bill to increase the direct payments to $2,000.
“Sign the bill Mr. President, and then immediately Monday, Tuesday we can pass a $2,000 direct payment to the working families of this country,” Sanders said.
Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) suggested Trump would “be remembered for chaos and misery and erratic behavior” if he did not sign the bill.