Jonathon Berman, jonathon.berman@sierraclub.org
Washington, DC -- Late yesterday, Donald Trump implied that he will not sign the massive year-end omnibus package that provides some COVID relief, funds the government, and contains significant climate and energy provisions, including the phaseout of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and clean energy tax credits for wind, solar, and offshore wind.
Should Trump fail to sign this package, millions will lose unemployment benefits, people could face evictions and further food insecurity, and the country will face further financial uncertainty with testing and vaccine distribution -- on top of shutting down the government, which will trigger countless other disastrous outcomes affecting millions of Americans.
Congressional Democratic leadership have welcomed the opportunity to provide direct payments of $2,000, and Mitch McConnell could avoid throwing the country into further disarray by aligning the Senate with both Democrats and the President.
In response, Sierra Club Legislative Director Melinda Pierce released the following statement:
“While Donald Trump has sat on the sidelines and Mitch McConnell and Congressional Republicans focus on protecting corporations and their three-martini lunches, our friends, our family, and our neighbors are in need of urgent help. Thankfully, Congressional Democrats were able to overcome Republicans’ intransigence to pass legislation that keeps the lights on and provides a down payment on desperately needed emergency COVID relief.
“If Donald Trump is serious about joining Congressional Democrats’ efforts to provide critically needed assistance, he must sign this legislation immediately and echo Democratic leaders’ calls for Mitch McConnell and Kevin McCarthy to agree to unanimous consent for increased direct relief for the millions of people in need.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.