Pelosi Learns Her Lesson, Will Keep House in Session on COVID Relief Bill

Americans have been dealing with the coronavirus pandemic for nearly seven months now, with businesses shuttered and millions of individuals still struggling to find work and make ends meet.

Earlier in this crisis, the federal government stepped up, adding $600 per week to unemployment benefits, making massive small business loans available, and issuing direct payments of up to $1,200 available for citizens.  But that was months ago, and not a whole lot has changed since then.

Americans have been clamoring for further assistance, but to no avail, as Congress continues to engage in their partisan nonsense.  At one point, both the House and Senate even went on recess, leaving We The People high and dry…as well as furious.

Now, after taking plenty of heat for that earlier flap, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is vowing to keep her chamber in session until a deal is reached.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told her caucus on a conference call Tuesday that she plans to keep members in Washington, D.C., until a deal is reached on a coronavirus relief proposal, a process that’s been stalled for months since the House passed its initial $3 trillion-plus bill in May.

A source who was on the call said Democratic House members agree with Pelosi’s plan to stay in town until a bill is passed.

Pelosi and others would go on to reiterate that idea.

“I just got off a call with my colleagues. We are committed to staying here until we have an agreement, an agreement that meets the needs of the American people. We’re optimistic that the White House at least will understand that we have to do some things,” she said in a subsequent interview on CNBC.

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., the House Democratic Caucus chairman, added Tuesday that Democrats “expect to be here as long as it takes in order to get something done on behalf of the American people” while listing off priorities including unemployment insurance, rental assistance, another round of stimulus checks and state and local government funding.

The relief is crucial, as an avalanche of evictions are set to sweep across the country after a federal moratorium on the legal actions will expire at the end of the year.