Schumer Urges Democrats to Push Back Against GOP Coronavirus Bill

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is urging Democratic lawmakers to push back against the Republican-backed coronavirus relief bill.

The New York lawmaker took to Twitter on Monday with the release of a letter to his colleagues discussing the next coronavirus relief bill.

Schumer tweeted, “It has been over three months since Senate Republicans have considered major COVID-relief legislation while Americans face this public health and economic crisis.”

In the letter, Schumer addressed the CARES Act and the impacts of the delayed passing of the fifth stimulus package.

“This one-party approach to this legislation is the same approach that delayed the passage of the CARES Act and the subsequent interim emergency relief legislation, failed on policing reform, and it won’t work this time around either,” Schumer wrote.

He also criticized Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) for his proposed five-year litigation guard that would shield businesses, schools, and churches from liability in the event people are exposed to coronavirus.

“From what we understand from press reports, Leader McConnell’s bill will prioritize corporate special interests over workers and main street businesses, and will fail to adequately address the worsening spread of the Coronavirus,” Schumer wrote.

The top Democratic lawmaker also doubled down on his previous stance regarding President Donald Trump’s handling of the coronavirus.

He also condemned the president’s decision not to implement the Defense Production Act which would have increased the production of medical supplies for testing and personal protective equipment for the healthcare industry.

Schumer also condemned Trump’s latest push for Republicans to block federal funding for coronavirus testing.

“To make matters even worse, the president is reportedly now urging Republicans to block additional… funding for testing — a cynical gambit that appears to be part of the president’s efforts to suppress data,” Schumer wrote.

To better combat the handling of the coronavirus, Schumer is urging Democratic lawmakers to maintain a united front in an effort to force Trump and Republican lawmakers to include some of the Democratic priorities for the upcoming bill.

“We will stand together again if we must,” Schumer wrote. “Our Democratic colleagues in the House are ready to work and we know that a bipartisan, bicameral process will result in a much better bill for the American people.”

Schumer and other Democratic leaders previously clashed with Republicans on a number of proposed priorities including: an additional round of stimulus payments for American workers, an extension of enhanced federal unemployment, HEROES Act funding to cover hazard pay for frontline healthcare workers and more funding for state and local departments to expand testing and contact tracing.