DeLauro Statement on Dangerous Executive Orders, Unconstitutional Political Ploy

WASHINGTON, D.C. —Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) released the following statement on the Trump Administration's woefully inadequate executive actions to provide COVID-19 relief that falls short of protecting and providing for the American People:

"While the president plays political games, approximately one thousand Americans are dying per day from a pandemic he allowed to flourish, nearly 30 million families and 14 million children are going hungry, millions face eviction, and about 51 million people have filed for unemployment benefits since the start of the spread of COVID-19.

"Without funding for coronavirus testing or contact tracing, food assistance programs, relief for child care providers, assistance for schools to safely reopen, or a legitimate plan to help the Black, Indigenous, and Latino communities who have been hardest hit by this pandemic, his executive actions amount to nothing but political theater. His executive order to cut unemployment assistance for millions and put more of the burden on the states while also denying the states the aid they desperately need is cruel and dangerous.

"We must act now to ameliorate the suffering that many of our fellow Americans are experiencing as they face eviction, hunger, and unemployment. These plans are clearly unconstitutional, threaten social security, and fail to provide any real relief. The administration and Republicans in Congress must in good faith return to the negotiating table to provide the resources to end this pandemic and help the individuals and families they swore to serve."