Washington, D.C. – Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet released the following statement in response to President Donald Trump's Executive Orders to extend Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) economic relief: 

“This administration and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have had over two months to negotiate a relief package that would address the public health crisis and prevent working families from facing severe hardship. Instead, they have chosen to play politics, and now, through no fault of their own, millions of Americans are wondering how they will pay their rent or mortgage, put food on the table, and care for their families as we continue to face the worst public health crisis in a century. It’s unconscionable. 

“The only way to adequately fight the pandemic and provide real support to families is through bipartisan legislation. Rambling press conferences, partisan Tweets, and inadequate executive orders do not keep families safe, pay the rent, or put food on the table. If we really want to support working families and our economy through this crisis, the next relief package must extend the expanded unemployment benefit and provide other support to struggling families; include enough funding to ensure federal, state, and local governments can maintain critical services; offer sustained support to the hardest-hit small businesses; and create a health force to support front line medical professionals.

“Instead of half measures and political stunts, we should immediately pass a relief package so we can get our country and our economy back on track.”