Andrew Yang: Lame Duck Congress Won't Pass COVID Relief

A coronavirus relief package must be approved before the election, because a lame duck Congress is not going to pass one, former Democrat presidential candidate Andrew Yang said Tuesday while urging House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to take action. 

"Millions of American families are struggling right now to make basic ends meet, to keep a roof over their heads," Yang said on CNN's "New Day." "If we don't get a relief package out the door before the election, a lame duck Congress is not going to pass it. We'll have to wait until a new administration in February. So you're talking November, December, January, February, four months of increased deprivation and desperation among American families."

Senate Republicans are to present legislation Tuesday to replenish money for small businesses affected by coronavirus shutdowns, but talks are continuing between Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin to discuss a larger stimulus package.

Pelosi has set a deadline for the end of the day to reach an agreement with the White House if a bill is to get through Congress before Election Day. 

President Donald Trump's administration has proposed a $1.8 trillion package, with Pelosi pushing for one at $2.2 trillion. 

Trump, however, told Fox News' "Fox and Friends" Tuesday that he wants to have a relief package that is "even bigger" than the Democrats plan, "because this is money going to people that did not deserve what happened to them coming out of China."

Yang pointed out that Mnuchin's last offer, at $1.8 trillion, "was really not that far from where (Pelosi's) $2.2 trillion was ... for the average American family that's hurting right now, we need to pass this."

He also called for pressure to be put on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and other Senate Republicans who are in close reelection races. 

"The last thing they want to do is say to their people in their communities, we had a chance to help you but we came up short," said Yang. "If Nancy says yes, Mitch will say yes and we still have a chance to keep this together for millions of American families through the winter."

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