Polowczyk has been main the hassle on the federal degree, coordinating a fleet of cargo planes to deliver face masks, robes, gloves and ventilator
Polowczyk has been main the hassle on the federal degree, coordinating a fleet of cargo planes to deliver face masks, robes, gloves and ventilators from abroad to assist replenish quickly depleting U.S. provides. However the general effort has been beset by bureaucratic roadblocks, miscommunication and fees of political favoritism by state leaders.
Home Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) has been internet hosting near-daily calls throughout the week in an effort to maintain members knowledgeable and linked as Congress is out of session for an prolonged interval to forestall the unfold of the virus on Capitol Hill.
The calls have had a excessive degree of participation – 99 p.c of Home Democrats have participated in at the least one of many greater than a dozen calls hosted by the caucus in the previous few weeks. After the briefing from high White Home officers, Democrats will hear from former Well being and Human Companies Secretary Sylvia Burwell, based on the invitation.
Final week, the calls had been primarily targeted on explaining particular insurance policies together with within the huge $2 trillion aid package deal signed into regulation late final month. Speaker Nancy Pelosi and different high Democrats are already pushing for one more huge rescue invoice that may construct upon the final piece of laws and embody expanded unemployment advantages, more cash for state and native governments and one other spherical of direct money funds to most Individuals.
On a caucus name Monday that featured former Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen, Pelosi stated the subsequent coronavirus aid invoice may “simply” price greater than $1 trillion.
Pelosi desires to start engaged on the brand new invoice instantly and remains to be speaking as if the Home may come again into session later this month to vote on it, though many lawmakers are more and more saying they suppose that’s untenable given the continued unfold of the virus throughout the nation.
The California Democrat has additionally met resistance from some high Republicans, who wish to wait, as a number of federal and state businesses are already struggling to implement the insurance policies Congress simply handed.