Durbin, Duckworth sign off on federal plan to target spread of new coronavirus

Both Illinois senators signed off Wednesday on a bipartisan plan targeted at the spreading new coronavirus.

The Senate approved the plan, backed by President Donald Trump, on a 90-8 vote. Democratic Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth backed the bill, which would provide free COVID-19 testing.

The bill, signed Wednesday evening by Trump, provides small businesses with financial help to provide workers with emergency paid family leave, including paid sick leave. And it provides more federal resources to expand unemployment benefits, support Medicaid programs and increase funding for food security and nutritional programs.

“This bill pushes the Trump Administration to improve its inadequate and counterproductive efforts to protect Americans from COVID-19 by refocusing our nation’s response to where it should have been from the beginning: testing,” Duckworth said in a statement.

While celebrating its passage, Durbin said in a tweet that Congress must do more to help citizens during the pandemic.

“It’s critical that Congress immediately passes a third coronavirus package supporting healthcare workers, our middle class families, and small businesses reeling from the economic impact,” he said. “Congress needs to move quickly.”

All five members of Illinois’ GOP House delegation joined the state’s Democratic House members over the weekend in voting for the bill. Rep. Dan Lipinski, D-Western Springs, did not vote on the measure.

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