The Senate approved the relief plan on Saturday after roughly 24 hours of debate.
***Comments from state/national leaders
Texas Democrats on the Senate Passing a $1.9 Billion Relief Package for Texas and American Families
Senators Cruz, Cornyn and all Republicans voted against helping American families
AUSTIN, Texas — Today, the Senate passed President Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-relief package.
The passage of the American Rescue Plan in the Senate means that millions of Texans will soon receive $1,400 checks to support their families through this crisis and billions of dollars will now go towards additional unemployment aid, our nation’s schools, small businesses, vaccine distribution, and funding for state and local governments.
Democrats were also successful in expanding the child tax credit, subsidies for child care, food and rental assistance, and the eligibility criteria under the Affordable Care Act.
When Democrats are elected into office, they deliver for Texans and their families.
Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa issued a statement:
“I commend our Democratic Senators for their support in passing President Biden’s COVID relief bill, which provides necessary $1400 checks for Texas families and is the largest anti-poverty effort in a generation. Texans need this relief and we are lucky to have national elected leaders who are now working on behalf of the people. Simply put, this is what happens when you elect Democrats — they deliver for the American people.
“Unfortunately, every single Republican in the Senate, including our very own Texas Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, voted against providing struggling Americans and their children with much-needed relief during this unprecedented health and economic crisis that has taken so much from our communities. This is who our Republican elected officials are. This is what they believe in.
“It is shameful that Texans have Senators who will not fight for Texas families and small businesses, yet have no problem passing trillions of dollars in tax breaks for the mega-rich in this country. We must vote for elected officials who will do the jobs they were elected to do. We must elect Democrats who will fight for our families and our communities.”
Cornyn Votes Against Wasteful $1.9 Trillion Mislabeled “COVID Relief” Bill
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement after voting against the Democrats’ $1.9 trillion spending bill:
“Republicans and Democrats worked together last year in a true show of unity to provide roughly $4 trillion in relief across five bipartisan bills. We could have built on that record this year, but instead Democrats put together a package of unrelated, wasteful, and downright partisan priorities: a blank check for mismanaged union pension funds; funding for climate justice; backdoor money for Planned Parenthood; an exclusive paid leave program for bureaucrats; and the list goes on.”
“More than 90% of the bill’s total funding is not directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our Democrat colleagues drafted this partisan bill by choice, not necessity. Their desire to turn a liberal wish list into law far outranked their interest in bipartisanship or unity.”
“I hope Democrats will work with us on the next relief bill for Americans’ recovery from the economic and health impacts of the pandemic so it can be both bipartisan and targeted toward those who need the help, like I’ve advocated for all along.”
Senator John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, is a member of the Senate Finance, Intelligence, and Judiciary Committees.
