Congressman Steven Horsford Speaks to Demand the House Pass Third Coronavirus Response Package
Washington, D.C. -- Today, Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-04) spoke on the House floor to demand his colleagues pass the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, or the CARES Act. Citing never-before-seen levels of unemployment insurance claims filed across the country, Congressman Horsford spoke about the necessity of the assistance provided by the CARES Act.
"Yesterday, the Department of Labor released devastating numbers revealing that 3.28 million people in America filed unemployment claims in the past week. My home state of Nevada alone saw a 182 percent increase in claims last week," Congressman Horsford said. "That is unprecedented job loss. American families need unprecedented relief to match it."
The Congressman's remarks can be watched and downloaded here.
In the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, Congressman Horsford fought for $1 billion in expanded unemployment insurance nationwide. Now, this third piece of legislation will increase the maximum unemployment benefit by $600 per week and ensure that laid-off workers, on average, will receive their full pay for four months. It also guarantees that all workers are protected whether they work for businesses small, medium or large, along with self-employed and workers in the gig economy.
The Congressman's full prepared remarks are below:
Madam Speaker and Chairman Neal,
I am proud to say that after days of debates and negotiations, we are able to tell the American people that help is on the way. Yesterday, the Department of Labor released devastating numbers revealing that 3.28 million people in America filed unemployment claims in the past week. My home state of Nevada alone saw a 182 percent increase in claims last week.
That is unprecedented job loss. American families need unprecedented relief to match it.
My provision in the Families First Coronavirus Package laid the groundwork for expanding unemployment benefits to the astounding number of Americans in need of them. Now, with the CARES Act, we are going above and beyond for our country's workers -- providing an additional $600 per week for the next four months for any worker facing coronavirus-related job loss.
No person in this country should worry about putting food on the table or paying their bills while trying to keep themselves, their families, and their neighbors safe. With this bill, I hope that America's working families who are struggling will know that their representatives in Congress are in their corner, fighting tooth and nail for them.
I know the pain and uncertainty that losing a job or facing a furlough causes. I am fighting -- we are fighting -- for all of you. Thank you, and I yield back.