The Common Good hosted a discussion about the 2020 election with Republican strategist Susan Del Percio and Sarah Longwell, founder of Republican Voters Against Trump.
The Senate Aging Committee held a hearing to examine the coronavirus pandemic and racial health disparities. The committee and witnesses discussed how COVID-19 disproportionately impacts minority communities and ways to address disparities and systematic racism. They discussed a wide range of solutions such as, affordable housing, access to healthcare and increasing trust between minorities and the healthcare system.
The Senate debates the nomination of Derek Kan to be Deputy White House Budget Director and the nomination of Marvin Kaplan to the National Labor Relations Board.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Democrats are sabotaging the Republican $1 trillion Covid economic aid package. He told Senators that Democrats are insisting pm more funds for supplemental unemployment benefits as a way to help them in the Fall elections.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer called the Republicans' $1 Trillion Covid-19 response plan a "train wreck." He said that Democratic leaders are negotiating directly with the White House because the Republican bill lacks support of many Senate Republicans as well as President Trump.
Senate Republican Whip John Thune said he's not surprised the 2nd Coronavirus economic aid bill lacks Republican support that the first aid bill received. He said the new $1 trillion GOP plan is a starting point for negotiations and he's hoping Democrats will bargain in good faith.
Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin joined the top Democrat on the Senate Aging Committee, Bob Casey, to talk about the latest Coronavirus economic aid plan, a series of Republican bills totaling $1 trillion. Sen. Durbin said the economy will get worse if Congress implements the Republican plan, while Sen. Casey warned of more seniors dying if Republicans refuse to compromise.
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) said the $1 trillion Republican aid plan for Coronavirus response leaves out necessary aid that was in the first legislation, and that puts people at risk. Sen. Leahy told stories of Vermont residents going through difficulties due to the pandemic.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell held a virtual news conference to discuss the U.S. economy and monetary policy actions amid the coronavirus pandemic. Chair Powell announced that interest rates would remain unchanged and economic activity remains "well below" its level before the pandemic. In addition, he told reporters, "We have seen some signs in recent weeks that the increase in virus cases and the renewed measures to control it are starting to weigh on economic activity."
The House Oversight and Reform Committee examined the president's efforts to not count undocumented immigrants in the 2020 Census. Members of Congress questioned witnesses on the legality of the issue, history of the census and the impact of counting and not counting undocumented immigrants. Census Director Steven Dillingham admitted he was not told about the plan to omit undocumented immigrants from the apportionment count.
The House Oversight and Reform Committee examined the president's efforts to not count undocumented immigrants in the 2020 Census. Members of Congress questioned witnesses on the legality of the issue, history of the census and the impact of counting and not counting undocumented immigrants. Census Director Steven Dillingham admitted he was not told about the plan to omit undocumented immigrants from the apportionment count.
