Fellow Illinoisan,

More than 1,000 Americans are dying every day from COVID-19.  It’s more than a 50 percent increase from just one month ago. We are nearing one million new COVID-19 infections a week.

The pandemic is surging in each of the 50 states and public health experts warn the worst is yet to come.  I strongly encourage you and your family to take every precaution this holiday season to protect yourselves, your loved ones, and your communities, including our heroic health care workers. 

DURBIN: INSTEAD OF NEGOTIATING ON COVID-19 RELIEF, MCCONNELL FOCUSED ON CONFIRMING JUDGES

And yet, when it comes to addressing this crisis, Republicans’ leadership in Washington is nowhere to be found.  Last weekend, we learned that President Trump has not attended a single meeting of the White House Coronavirus task force in FIVE MONTHS.  At the time when Americans need leadership the most, this President goes AWOL.

His refusal to concede the results of the election is also preventing federal health officials from meeting with President-elect Biden’s COVID task force and coordinating their efforts.  He is simultaneously refusing to address the most important crisis of his own Presidency while also sabotaging the ability of his successor to do the work he should have been doing all along.

And while the President is off losing legal battles across the country, Congressional Republicans still refuse to work with Democrats on meaningful, bipartisan COVID-19 relief for the American people.  They are too busy trying to soothe the ego of our outgoing President to actually do their job. In the meantime, Americans are suffering. They need Congress to take action.  

For four years, President Trump created chaos and discord in America.  No one should be surprised by this kind of destructive behavior on his way out of the White House.  But the rest of the Republican Party needs to face reality—we are in the midst of a global health crisis.  We must come together address COVID-19 immediately and pass a relief bill for the American people.  We cannot afford to wait around any longer. 

Sincerely,

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