On Wednesday afternoon Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) took the floor of the United States Senate to give remarks and updates about the Covid stimulus bill that is being negotiated by an eleven member bipartisan group in the Senate.
“Last week I came to this floor on two separate occasions with Senator Sanders to talk about the need for direct assistance for working families. I said that I was willing to use every tool at my disposal to make sure this body acted to give direct assistance to working people in need as a part of Covid relief, and I said then and I say it again today the working people should be first in line for Covid relief, not last. They should be the first consideration, not some after thought,” remarked the Junior Senator from Missouri.
“I please to report that we were told today that direct assistance to working families and working people is in the bill. The working people will be getting assistance.”
The direct assistance relief that is being backed by the unlikely duo of Senators Hawley and Sanders is overwhelmingly popular with voters as it ensures that single Americans are provided with a $1,200 stimulus check, couples are given $2,400, and each child is given $500, which is the same rate of direct relief that Americans were provided in April.
In short, a couple with three children would get $3,900 in direct stimulus relief money to use at their own discretion.
“It would be a dereliction of duty if Congress adjourns for Christmas without having a vote on providing working families with direct payments. Working people are struggling. And they should be the first people given relief, not last,” Hawley said in a statement.
“In the midst of so much economic desperation, Congress cannot go on recess without providing this $1,200 emergency assistance to the American people in their time of need,” Sanders said.
Members of the stimulus negotiating team hope to have a bill ready by the end of the week.