Schumer: Dems will pass COVID relief bill with or without GOP

US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks during a press conference at the US Capitol in Washington, DC on January 26, 2021. (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 12:35 PM PT – Thursday, January 28, 2021

Senate Democrats said they’re looking to pass a coronavirus relief package without Republican support.

Majority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (D) spoke on the Senate floor Thursday. He announced the upper chamber will begin considering a Democrat-led COVID relief bill next week.

Meanwhile, Republicans have criticized Joe Biden’s expensive proposal as a Democrat wishlist. Schumer added Democrats will seek to pass the $1.9 trillion bill on their own if Republicans “don’t recognize big action” must be taken.

Everywhere you look, alarm bells are ringing.

COVID is spreading.

Businesses are still closing.

Restaurants and bars are in crisis.

We are in the midst of a once-in-a-century crisis.

It requires once-in-a-century effort to overcome it.

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) January 28, 2021

“We are in the midst of a once in a century crisis,” Schumer stated. “It requires a once in a century effort to overcome it. The dangers of undershooting our response are far greater than overshooting.”

The dangers of undershooting our COVID response are far greater than overshooting it

It's one of the most important lessons we learned from 2008 and 2009—when Congress was too timid in its response to the financial crisis

This Senate will deliver more help to Americans and fast

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) January 28, 2021

Although a bill typically requires 60 votes to advance, Democrats are seeking to pass the legislation through “budget reconciliation,” which only requires a simple majority. The Senate is currently split 50-50, with Vice President Kamala Harris poised to be the tie-breaking vote.

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