ICYMI – On the Senate Floor: Shaheen Calls for Senate Republicans to Prioritize Bipartisan Negotiations on COVID Relief Over Partisan Politics

Shaheen speaks on the Senate floor highlighting the urgent need to pass COVID-19 relief legislation instead of rushing a partisan Supreme Court nomination process.

(Washington, DC) – Yesterday on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) called on Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans to prioritize a comprehensive COVID-19 relief package to help struggling Granite Staters and Americans, instead of rushing a partisan Supreme Court nomination process. Senator Shaheen underscored the urgent need to respond to the ongoing public health and economic crisis that is bearing down on New Hampshire families and Americans throughout the nation.

In her remarks, Shaheen highlighted the Senate’s bipartisan efforts in March that led to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, of which Shaheen helped negotiate the small business provisions, including the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. On the Senate floor, Shaheen explained the severe economic strains facing New Hampshire families and millions more throughout the country who cannot afford to wait until after the election for another deal, as President Trump announced when he originally ended negotiations with Congress earlier this month. Shaheen said, “I’m optimistic that we can come to bipartisan agreement, but we can’t wait until after the election. Americans need help putting food on the table and paying the bills today. Too many can’t afford an arbitrary timeline for delivering assistance. We need to set aside our differences and end the partisan jockeying and do what’s right for the nation. That is what our constituents sent us here to do. We did it before, and we can do it again.”

Senator Shaheen also underscored how important it is to vote on a bill that responds to the full scope of assistance needed for communities to survive this crisis. Highlighting the dire situation facing New Hampshire health care providers and hospitals, Shaheen said, “…hospitals like the Lakes Region General Healthcare in New Hampshire just filed bankruptcy this week and hospitals across New Hampshire are projecting hundreds of millions of dollars in losses this year due to the cancellation of elective procedures and non-emergency visits...” Shaheen explained that the recent partisan COVID-19 response bill written by Senate Republicans did not include the resources that communities on the frontlines need, and specifically failed to provide any grants for health care providers, struggling families or aid to state and local governments facing severe budgetary shortfalls.

Shaheen’s remarks can be viewed in full here.