Senate Republicans let emergency unemployment relief expire two months ago at the end of July, leaving millions of Americans without the critical lifeline that has allowed them to put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads. Mitch McConnell and his caucus then took a month-long vacation — only to return and continue to block a full extension of the urgently needed relief. Here’s a complete timeline of Senate Republicans’ refusal to extend emergency jobless benefits as the deadline to act came and went.
Despite alarming reports that Senate Republicans’ inaction “will create widespread damage across America” and grim warnings that the U.S. economy remains at risk, Mitch McConnell and his caucus continue to ignore the urgent needs of millions of hardworking families and are instead focusing on rushing to fill a lifetime Supreme Court appointment while Americans in several states have already begun voting.
“Millions of working families have spent the last two months struggling to make ends meet, and now another month’s rent is coming due while Senate Republicans rush to fill a lifetime Supreme Court vacancy instead of passing additional emergency relief for the American people,” said DSCC spokesperson Helen Kalla. “Republicans’ cowardly inaction has made life even harder for millions of Americans facing this unprecedented public health and economic crisis, and they will have to answer to voters for their shameful inaction.”
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