Fellow Illinoisan,

It should go without saying that we are still in the midst of an unprecedented public health and economic crisis in this country.  COVID-19 cases are spiking across the country and public health experts like Dr. Fauci, of the National Institutes of Health, believe that we are still in the first wave of this pandemic, with a second looming. 

In March, Congress responded with the bipartisan CARES Act.  Working together with the White House, Congress put together much-needed bipartisan legislation to help support working families, small businesses, hospitals, and state and local governments. 

AS COVID-19 CASES SPIKE, DURBIN CALLS ON MCCONNELL TO BRING HOUSE-PASSED HEROES ACT TO THE FLOOR

The CARES Act was a success, but it is not enough on its own.  The Paycheck Protection Program nearly ended this week, but as a result of Senate Democrats’ efforts, Congress approved a temporary extension until August 8.  Enhanced unemployment assistance expires at the end of this month.  Tens of millions of Americans are losing their jobs and, as a result, their health insurance coverage.  The time has come for another COVID-19 relief package.  We cannot afford to wait.

The House of Representatives passed a bill more than six weeks ago called the Heroes Act.  It provides $3 trillion in additional funding to extend and build upon the successes of the CARES Act.  It passed with bipartisan support.

Sadly, this bill has languished in the United States Senate for the past six weeks, as COVID-19 cases continue to spike across the country, because Senate Majority Leader McConnell doesn’t feel a sense of “urgency,” to use his own words.

But if Senator McConnell was paying attention to what was happening in states across the country -- including his home state of Kentucky -- he’d begin to understand the urgency.  Our hospitals and health care workers are asking for help.  Small businesses need a lifeline.  Working families are struggling to make ends meet.  And our state and local governments are facing difficult decisions as they try to balance their books due to less tax revenue as businesses close and people lose their jobs.  This is an urgent crisis impacting every aspect of our lives. 

We have a lot of work to do to address this economic and public health crisis and it’s time for the U.S. Senate to act.  This virus is on the attack and doesn’t care which political party you belong to.  Senator McConnell must work with Democrats to pass the Heroes Act to give the American people the help they so desperately need.

Sincerely,

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL)