While Senate GOP Irresponsibly Rushes to Confirm SCOTUS Nominee, House Once Again Passes Desperately Needed COVID-19 Relief Bill

Senate Must Halt Rushed SCOTUS Confirmation Process and Focus on Providing COVID-19 Relief — Which They Have Failed to Do for More Than 130 Days

WASHINGTON — Today, lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives passed updated, much-needed legislation to respond to the COVID-19 public health crisis. This updated version (H.R. 925) of the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act — like the House’s original legislation (H.R. 6800) from May — would increase support for testing, tracing and treatment; provide additional resources to state Medicaid programs; support state, local, territorial and tribal governments; allow a special enrollment period in the Affordable Care Act exchanges; restore enhanced unemployment benefits; provide critical new resources to ensure safe elections, an accurate census, and a fully-functioning Postal Service; address global health needs; and more.

The Senate majority never took up the original HEROES Act, and its own proposals for pandemic relief have been woefully inadequate and failed to get the necessary votes to pass. This second legislative attempt from House leaders to get people in the U.S. the relief they need — after the Senate majority’s more than 130 days of failure — comes as Senate leaders rush to confirm Donald Trump’s nominee to the Supreme Court against the will of the American people.

Statement from Alexis McGill Johnson, acting president, Planned Parenthood Action Fund:

“We are grateful to see House leaders stepping up yet again to provide people with the relief they need during this pandemic. Unfortunately, Senate leaders are running in the other direction. Sen. McConnell is trying to fast track a Supreme Court nominee in less than 40 days — when the Senate has gone more than 130 days without passing comprehensive COVID-19 relief.The updated HEROES Act would provide desperately needed resources to protect those on the front lines so they can continue their work, to support families struggling through lost income, and to secure the integrity of our elections so that we can move forward, together. We thank Speaker Pelosi for leading this critical legislation through the House and urge the Senate to pass comprehensive COVID-19 relief immediately."

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Planned Parenthood Action Fund is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit membership organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The Action Fund engages in educational, advocacy and electoral activity, including grassroots organizing, legislative advocacy, and voter education.