Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) speaks at an event on January 11, 2020 in Newton, Iowa. (Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Aug 02, 2020
Sen. Bernie Sanders on Sunday added to a growing chorus of progressive voices demanding the Senate act with urgency to pass a coronavirus relief bill that addresses the economic crisis sparked by the pandemic by providing an extension in a federally funded boost in unemployment benefits and other aid.
"The clock is ticking," the Vermont independent declared on Twitter.
\u201cThe clock is ticking. While the economy tanks, some 30 million workers are losing their $600 a week unemployment supplement. Their families are facing hunger, eviction and foreclosure. The House has acted. The Senate must act NOW.\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1596383549
"The House has acted," Sanders added, referring to the HEROES Act passed by the lower chamber in May. "The Senate must act NOW."
As Common Dreams reported Saturday, Senate Republicans left town Friday as the unemployment benefit boost expired, leaving millions of Americans in economic limbo and facing eviction and misery.
"In the middle of this pandemic they're playing with us," Candida Kevorkian, a 53-year-old California, told the Washington Post.
The continuing Republican inaction on the relief bill is tantamount to sin, Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II and Rev Dr Liz Theoharis wrote for Common Dreams Sunday:
Our government's abandonment of the people--in the midst of the greatest public health crisis in a century and an economic downturn that could rival the Great Depression (it was just announced that US GDP fell by annualized rate of 32.9% in the second quarter of 2020, the greatest collapse of the US economy in a single quarter in history)--is sin of the highest order. The ancient words of the Prophet Isaiah ring with unnerving relevance today: "Woe to you who legislate evil, who rob the poor of their rights, making women and homeless children your prey."
New York State Assemblymember Yuh-Line Niou tweeted her support for Sanders' call to action.
"My family needs this," said Niou. "My neighbors need this. My community needs this."
Join Us: News for people demanding a better world
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. Join with us today! |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Sen. Bernie Sanders on Sunday added to a growing chorus of progressive voices demanding the Senate act with urgency to pass a coronavirus relief bill that addresses the economic crisis sparked by the pandemic by providing an extension in a federally funded boost in unemployment benefits and other aid.
"The clock is ticking," the Vermont independent declared on Twitter.
\u201cThe clock is ticking. While the economy tanks, some 30 million workers are losing their $600 a week unemployment supplement. Their families are facing hunger, eviction and foreclosure. The House has acted. The Senate must act NOW.\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1596383549
"The House has acted," Sanders added, referring to the HEROES Act passed by the lower chamber in May. "The Senate must act NOW."
As Common Dreams reported Saturday, Senate Republicans left town Friday as the unemployment benefit boost expired, leaving millions of Americans in economic limbo and facing eviction and misery.
"In the middle of this pandemic they're playing with us," Candida Kevorkian, a 53-year-old California, told the Washington Post.
The continuing Republican inaction on the relief bill is tantamount to sin, Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II and Rev Dr Liz Theoharis wrote for Common Dreams Sunday:
Our government's abandonment of the people--in the midst of the greatest public health crisis in a century and an economic downturn that could rival the Great Depression (it was just announced that US GDP fell by annualized rate of 32.9% in the second quarter of 2020, the greatest collapse of the US economy in a single quarter in history)--is sin of the highest order. The ancient words of the Prophet Isaiah ring with unnerving relevance today: "Woe to you who legislate evil, who rob the poor of their rights, making women and homeless children your prey."
New York State Assemblymember Yuh-Line Niou tweeted her support for Sanders' call to action.
"My family needs this," said Niou. "My neighbors need this. My community needs this."
Sen. Bernie Sanders on Sunday added to a growing chorus of progressive voices demanding the Senate act with urgency to pass a coronavirus relief bill that addresses the economic crisis sparked by the pandemic by providing an extension in a federally funded boost in unemployment benefits and other aid.
"The clock is ticking," the Vermont independent declared on Twitter.
\u201cThe clock is ticking. While the economy tanks, some 30 million workers are losing their $600 a week unemployment supplement. Their families are facing hunger, eviction and foreclosure. The House has acted. The Senate must act NOW.\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1596383549
"The House has acted," Sanders added, referring to the HEROES Act passed by the lower chamber in May. "The Senate must act NOW."
As Common Dreams reported Saturday, Senate Republicans left town Friday as the unemployment benefit boost expired, leaving millions of Americans in economic limbo and facing eviction and misery.
"In the middle of this pandemic they're playing with us," Candida Kevorkian, a 53-year-old California, told the Washington Post.
The continuing Republican inaction on the relief bill is tantamount to sin, Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II and Rev Dr Liz Theoharis wrote for Common Dreams Sunday:
Our government's abandonment of the people--in the midst of the greatest public health crisis in a century and an economic downturn that could rival the Great Depression (it was just announced that US GDP fell by annualized rate of 32.9% in the second quarter of 2020, the greatest collapse of the US economy in a single quarter in history)--is sin of the highest order. The ancient words of the Prophet Isaiah ring with unnerving relevance today: "Woe to you who legislate evil, who rob the poor of their rights, making women and homeless children your prey."
New York State Assemblymember Yuh-Line Niou tweeted her support for Sanders' call to action.
"My family needs this," said Niou. "My neighbors need this. My community needs this."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.