With the U.S. House going back in session next week, Congressman Fred Upton is hoping to make quick work of a stalemate over the next coronavirus relief package. He tells WSJM News lawmakers in Washington have to get to work.
“We have a couple of real competing issues here,” Upton said. “We have the end of the fiscal year, which expires September 30, and so without an agreement, you have a shutdown.”
Upton said a deal appears to have been reached to avoid that, but what about COVID-19 economic relief? He says his Problems Solvers Caucus is working on it.
“We spent a number of ours this weekend on some Zoom calls talking about a package to get us off the dime. I’m hoping that later in the week we might be able to come to a conclusion on this, and actually be able to promote it with our leadership on both sides of the aisle to get things moving.”
Upton says states and cities need relief, schools need help, and there needs to be another round of stimulus checks, among others things. The Problem Solvers group is planning to use what it comes up with as a basis that the Congressional leadership can start with. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell touted a new coronavirus stimulus bill this week, but it’s not going anywhere. Upton says something bipartisan is what’s needed.
