Moments ago, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) brought S. 178, the ‘‘Delivering Immediate Relief to America’s Families, Schools and Small Businesses Act,’’ to the floor for a vote before the full United States Senate, where it failed. This legislation comes 118 days after the United States House of Representatives passed the HEROES Act, which provided an historic and robust investment to combat the COVID-19 global pandemic.

In response to the failed vote of the ‘Delivering Immediate Relief to America’s Families, Schools and Small Businesses Act,’’ Jesse Barba, Senior Director for External Affairs for Young Invincibles issued the following statement:

“We all saw this coming. We knew this wouldn’t pass, yet for more than three months, Senate Republicans have been playing the ‘wait and see’ game, while millions of young people lost jobs, were kicked off college campuses, and lost key lifelines like housing, food, and health care access.

More than six million Americans have been infected, over 190,000 have died, and tens of millions are jobless and at risk of homelessness and hunger. So much of this pain could have been avoided, yet this legislation does nothing to meet the unprecedented moment we face. The inadequacy of this bill shows that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is out of touch with reality. Instead of relief for millions of American tenants, hungry families, school districts, electoral systems, or state and local governments, this bill allows corporations to put their workers in harm’s way with impunity.

We know the only solution is to pass comprehensive legislation that matches the urgency of the devastating health and economic crises facing young people. Gambling with their lives is no way to govern. We urge Congress to use upcoming government funding negotiations as a vehicle for COVID relief, and cancel any recess plans until an aid package is passed.”