Hoyer Statement on the Unemployment Insurance Claims Report
Press Types
Press Release
For Immediate Release:
April 2, 2020
Contact Info:
Mariel Saez 202-225-3130
WASHINGTON, DC – House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement on today's unemployment insurance claims report:
“Today's report that more than 6.6 million Americans filed for unemployment insurance last week is the latest example of how the coronavirus has impacted daily life in our country. When added to the previous week's record-shattering 3.3 million newly unemployed, 10 million Americans have now lost their jobs in a shockingly short period of time. This demonstrates the urgency with which the federal government must step up rather than stand down. In the CARES Act enacted last week, Democrats secured an expansion of unemployment insurance so that every single one of these 10 million Americans will receive an extra $600 per week to help them pay their rent or mortgages, buy food, and make ends meet. Importantly, we also expanded eligibility to self-employed, contract, and gig workers as well.
“While the CARES Act aimed to mitigate the worst of the economic consequences, with direct payments to most Americans and assistance to small businesses to sustain their payroll, the House stands ready to take whatever further action may be necessary. The only way to prevent our hospitals from being overwhelmed is for as many Americans as possible to stay home. We cannot begin to turn our economy back on until public health experts tell us it is safe to do so.
“We are all in this together, and every American has a role to play in defeating coronavirus, whether that means working in an essential job or staying home to prevent the virus’s spread. We must ensure that we are all doing our part to help America’s health care workers do their part. Through this time of challenge, we remain one nation, indivisible, and we all have a responsibility to protect the most vulnerable in our communities.”
“Today's report that more than 6.6 million Americans filed for unemployment insurance last week is the latest example of how the coronavirus has impacted daily life in our country. When added to the previous week's record-shattering 3.3 million newly unemployed, 10 million Americans have now lost their jobs in a shockingly short period of time. This demonstrates the urgency with which the federal government must step up rather than stand down. In the CARES Act enacted last week, Democrats secured an expansion of unemployment insurance so that every single one of these 10 million Americans will receive an extra $600 per week to help them pay their rent or mortgages, buy food, and make ends meet. Importantly, we also expanded eligibility to self-employed, contract, and gig workers as well.
“While the CARES Act aimed to mitigate the worst of the economic consequences, with direct payments to most Americans and assistance to small businesses to sustain their payroll, the House stands ready to take whatever further action may be necessary. The only way to prevent our hospitals from being overwhelmed is for as many Americans as possible to stay home. We cannot begin to turn our economy back on until public health experts tell us it is safe to do so.
“We are all in this together, and every American has a role to play in defeating coronavirus, whether that means working in an essential job or staying home to prevent the virus’s spread. We must ensure that we are all doing our part to help America’s health care workers do their part. Through this time of challenge, we remain one nation, indivisible, and we all have a responsibility to protect the most vulnerable in our communities.”