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TOPLINE
Three House Democrats are pushing leadership to schedule a vote that would bring back the $600 federal unemployment payments while the House of Representatives is called back into session this week.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) speaks during her weekly news conference at the U.S. … [+]
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KEY FACTS
The Letter, addressed to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D. Calif.) and House Majority leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), and signed by Representatives Scott Peters (D-Calif.), Don Beyer (D-Va.) and Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.), asks the leadership to consider taking up legislation like “The Worker Relief and Security Act.”
The legislation, written by Kilmer and Beyer, extends the $600 unemployment benefits for the duration of the national Covid-19 health emergency.
The bill would then lower the federal supplement to $450 for 13 weeks, after which benefits would be tied to state unemployment levels, according to a representative from Beyer’s office.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, may be joining the trio’s call for vote, according to Politico.
Key Background
The $600 weekly federal unemployment benefits passed almost without opposition in March as part of the CARES Act. But the federal supplement, which came in addition to state unemployment, expired at the end of July and Congress has yet to make an agreement on a second stimulus package, with both Democrats and Republicans blaming each other for holding up negotiations. Earlier this month President Trump signed an executive order that would supplement state unemployment insurance by $300, but those payments won’t likely be seen until late August. Pelosi called the House back from recess to vote on a bill that would restore Postal Service operations to where they were on January 1 after critics of newly appointed Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said his changes to the USPS have kneecapped the Postal Service before the election. The changes, which include the cutting overtime pay and transportation costs, have caused widespread fears that the USPS wouldn’t be able to handle the millions of mail-in ballots expected for the November election. He is set to testify before the House Oversight Committee on August 24.
Further Reading
Democrats Letter To Leadership
Pelosi Calling House Back In Session Over Postal Service Controversy (Forbes)
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy Temporarily Reverses USPS Changes—But Democrats Push For More (Forbes)
Second Stimulus Check Passage Delayed Again By $600 Unemployment Extension Clash (Forbes)
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