Further Continuing Appropriations Act, and Other Extensions Act
Floor Speech
If the Senate of the United States can find hundreds of billions of dollars to give to big government and big business, surely it can find some relief for working families and working individuals. And I would just submit to you that it is working families and working people who should be first in line for COVID relief, not last.
That is why the amendment that Senator Sanders and I have proposed is so common sense--$1,200 for individuals, $2,400 for families, $500 for every child--and as Senator Sanders rightly said, every Member of this body has voted yes, in favor of this relief before.
What is more, I can't figure who exactly is opposed to it. The President of the United States has said that he is in favor of direct assistance. I thank the majority leader for his own support of direct assistance. The Speaker of the House says she is in favor of direct assistance. And that is why there is no reason why this body should leave next week before we vote on and approve direct assistance to working families.
Now, let me just say one other thing. Let me tell you about a phone call I had with a friend of mine at home when this Congress approved direct assistance back in March. He texted me, and then he called me and he said: I am seeing this news about relief that we are going to maybe get a check. Is that real?
I said: Yeah, that is real.
He said: Well, I don't know. I am worried about taking it. I mean, what if we spend the money? I mean, we could use the money, but what if we spend it, and I can't pay it back? You know, it comes back and now I have got to pay it back?
I said: You don't have to pay it back. It is relief, because you need it, because you are working. This is a guy who works in concrete. That is his business.
And he said: Are you serious, now? You are serious that we can keep this money? I can use this for my family.
I said: That is exactly what it is for.
And his comment to me was--his words were: Man, this is a godsend.
There are families like that not just all over Missouri, not just all over Vermont, but all over this Nation, and they are in need today like they were in need in March. It is incumbent upon this body to act, and we should not leave until we do that.
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