NAMBE, N.M. - U.S. House Assistant Speaker Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) issued the following statement after House Democrats passed legislation to increase direct payments to U.S. taxpayers from $600 to $2,000. The bill now advances to the Republican-controlled Senate. On Christmas Eve, House Republicans blocked a unanimous consent request to pass $2,000 economic impact payments, which President Trump has expressed support for.
"For months, my Democratic colleagues and I have been advocating for bigger direct payments to Americans. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell has callously res is-ted, denying struggling families a desperately needed lifeline during an unprecedented national emergency," said Lujan. "Since President Trump expressed his support for $2,000 checks last week, Democrats have acted twice to pass this measure. This is Congress' last chance to provide robust relief to the Ameri can people before the end of the year, and it's time for Senate Republicans to allow a vote and pass this bill."