House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) criticized Senate Republicans for their proposed $1.3 trillion-dollar coronavirus relief package.
On Friday, Pelosi released a letter addressed to her colleagues as she expressed concern about the continuance of the pandemic and Republicans’ proposed bill to address the problem.
The top-ranking Democrat insisted Senate Republicans’ proposed amount would not suffice in light of all that needs to be addressed.
Pelosi made it clear that her caucus would not agree to any proposed bill totaling less than $2.2 trillion outlined in the Democratic proposal.
“As the virus and the accompanying economic crisis devastate lives and livelihoods, Senate Republicans and the White House continue to display their contempt for science and their contempt for state and local government,” Pelosi wrote.
The California Democrat recalled her discussion with the White House on the previous day. According to Pelosi, Republican lawmakers have failed to “do not comprehend the needs of the American people.”
She added, “Yesterday when I spoke with the White House, they made clear that they still do not comprehend the needs of the American people as lives and livelihoods are overwhelmed by the virus and its economic consequences.”
Pelosi’s latest remarks come amid the latest stall in discussions about the fifth coronavirus relief package.
At the beginning of the month, Pelosi, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) all spoke out with concerns from both sides.
While Republicans balked at Democrats’ proposed $3 trillion dollar HEROES Act, Democratic lawmakers have lambasted Republicans’ proposed HEALS act deeming it inadequate to address all of the issues the country is facing due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Despite stalled conversations about the next coronavirus relief package, the coronavirus has continued to spread in states all over the country. As of Saturday morning, more than 6.1 million cases have been confirmed in the United States as the death toll approaches 186,000.