Dingell Says COVID Relief Won’t Be Enough, But Congress Must Act

It has been a rollercoaster ride without any of the fun when it comes to COVID relief negotiations in Washington. One stalemate after another leads to hopes of a break-through — only to be dashed by more partisan gridlock.

“People aren’t sleeping at night. They’re worried about food, roofs over their head, their jobs. We have to do something.” – Rep. Debbie Dingell (MI-12)

It’s only a matter of days before the 116th Congress is done and a new Congress is sworn in, which means this group of lawmakers is running out of time to negotiate a COVID relief package that can help families and businesses who desperately need it with the pandemic still surging. 

Listen: Rep. Dingell discusses COVID relief negotiations, the status of the Pfizer vaccine, and more

Guest

Congresswoman Debbie Dingell is a Democrat from Dearborn representing Michigan’s 12th Congressional District. She says any relief package they’re able to negotiate in the short term will not be enough to adequately respond to the economic crisis that Americans are experiencing right now. But she says doing nothing at all not acceptable. 

“I’m not very happy that we’re in these circumstances, but no action is unacceptable to me,” Dingell tells Stephen Henderson on Detroit Today.

“People aren’t sleeping at night,” she says. “They’re worried about food, roofs over their head, their jobs. We have to do something. So I’m unwilling not to extend those programs.”