Washington, D.C. – Mitch McConnell (R-KY) sent the Senate home as the COVID-19 death toll rises over 160,000, with millions of people still unemployed. The Republican-controlled Senate has failed to produce a bill to provide the critical support for people to survive this pandemic, such as cost-free testing and treatment and cash assistance regardless of immigration status. This comes less than a week after Trump signed an executive order cutting social security and unemployment benefits.
Adrian Reyna, Director of Strategy of United We Dream Action, said:
“Mitch McConnell just sent the Senate home until September having taken no vote on the House-passed HEROES Act, or any Senate bill providing needed COVID-19 relief. Republicans gave-up on a COVID-19 relief plan, leaving their constituents to fend off unemployment and evictions on their own. In November, it is time for them to be sent home for good!
Trump and Republicans’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been catastrophic, which has cost over 160,000 lives, and left millions of people unemployed. Trump and Republicans continue to ignore science, downplaying the threat of the virus, and putting our lives at risk. Black and brown communities are three times more likely to get infected and nearly two times more likely to die from COVID-19, according to the New York Times. Their actions speak volumes: they don’t care about our communities and they don’t deserve their vote.
The House of Representatives passed the HEROs Act in May to get the needed aid to our communities. However, the Republican-controlled Senate, led by Mitch McConnell, ignored attempts to provide what our communities need, instead allowing Trump to cut unemployment and social security benefits during a pandemic. Trump has been harmful to our communities throughout his presidency, but especially in the midst of this pandemic, and the Republican-controlled Senate has let him get away with it. United We Dream Action is working to ensure Trump and his Republican enablers in the Senate follow him out this November. Senators Gardner (R-CO), Tillis (R-NC), McSally (R-AZ), and Cornyn (R-TX) must go home for good and ensure Mitch McConnell loses his majority.”