The Democratic-controlled House of Representatives passed a $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief package this week. Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY1) voted against it along with every other Republican member of the House and over a dozen Democrats.
Zeldin said the bill will die in the Senate. He said measures, including cashless bail and stimulus checks for immigrants who entered the country illegally, will never become law.
“Our state needs money, New York City, the Port Authority, our local governments on the east end of Long Island," he said. "Hey, we should be working together to get something done. And this bill has poison pills in it that makes this bill dead on arrival.”
The House bill contains a second round of stimulus checks, weekly unemployment benefits, and billions of dollars in state and local aid.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT3) said it’s now up to Senate Republicans and President Trump to act.
“While the House passed a comprehensive bill for the American people back in May, the Senate failed to act," DeLauro said. "So, we advance this $2.2 trillion dollar package, it includes $2.7 billion for Connecticut, to protect lives, livelihoods, and the life of our democracy.”
The White House has offered a $1.5 trillion bill that's similar to what a bipartisan group of House members unveiled in mid-September. Zedlin called it a "real counteroffer."
Without making a deal before the House left Washington D.C. on Friday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin are expected to meet again next week to negotiate the coronavirus relief bill. The House is not scheduled to be back in session until after Election Day.
Meanwhile, Senate Republicans have not produced another bill since their $300 billion proposal failed in September.
