Thank you very much. Good morning. Thanks to all of you for joining us and to all our colleagues for participating this morning. As you are well aware that every part we are in the midst of a Public Health and economic catastrophe. The coronavirus pandemic has resulted in the loss of more than 150,000 american lives, more than 4. 8 million infections in the sharpest economic downturn since the great depression. The latest projection from the cdc anticipates an average of nearly 1000 deaths per day through august 22. That is 18000 americans who will die over just two and half weeks. Since march my colleagues and i have conducted oversight over the Trump Administrations response to this crisis to ensure it is efficient, effective and equitable. Our goal is clear, to save americans lives and livelihoods. Our message to the administration is simple, it is urgent that we put policies and politics aside and Work Together on behalf of the American People. At this time of National Crisis i sin
Taking away Police Protective Gear and nonlethal weapons. Or at least trying to. Anarchists, leftwing activists this weekend attacked Law Enforcement officers as they seem to do every weekend now. They tried to destroy Federal Buildings and local police precinctings. Dozens of people were shot. Violent mobs attacked Law Enforcement officers all across the country. And lawless activists rioted in at least a half dozen cities. Much of the weekends violence once again concentrated in the Pacific Northwest where thousands gathered overnight outside the federal courthouse in portland. There radical antifa anarchists, black lives matter activists started fires near the federal courthouse before agents fired tear gas against them to disperse the crowd. Disburse the crowd. The Trump Administration ordered 150 more federal agents into portland to protect the Federal Building and those Law Enforcement officers who are under siege. The citys radical dem leadership continues to escalate their war
Exacerbated by the pandemic. Individuals, especially in that situation, they depend on facetoface contact with someone in Social Security or at least someone they can talk to. And i dont know if youve ever tried to call the 800 number, but if you have, youre going to be on hold for a very long time. I think having more resources as you just pointed out, as shaun mentioned would go a long way. I have made recommendations that Social Security make an effort to partner with some nonprofits in the area to help in advising those who want to claim ssi, how to navigate the system and i think thats worth exploring. I hope Social Security will take that up as well. Congressman mr. Ferguson is recognized. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you for your leadership. I think we all agree the worse thing that any of us could do is not to act on this issue. If you want to see real harm done to americans, lets not do anything and see what happens. I would like to commend both of you for your leadership in
Circumstances for people in terms of wage replacement across the country. It is clear that the 600 that were added to the weekly unemployment benefit has offered some conflict but heres the reality of it. The reality is, you cant quit your job to get an extra 600 a week. But secondly, knowing that the pandemic with 30 million americans having filed for Unemployment Insurance that the contagion of the Health Care System would make its way into the contagion of the Economic System and people would have trouble paying their rent and mortgages. That was what this was about. The wage replacement issue, along with the extra 600, has gone a long way toward ameliorating some of that pressure. The other side knew this was coming. They knew that eventually, despite the procrastination, the argument that they were waiting to see how this would play out, now brings us to the eve of an economic catastrophe if Unemployment Insurance is not extended. You can see that right now that theres great uncer
Us with your thoughts with your first name, city and state at 202 7488003. Or you can go to twitter at cspanwj and facebook at facebook. Com cspan. Whether it is rental assistance, help with your mortgage, you thinke costs, or your state needs aid from washington, help with colleges and schools, whatever it is, whatever economic aid do you need . That is our conversation this morning. Joining us on the phone is eric watson, congressional reporter with bloomberg coming year to give us the latest. Where do negotiations stand in washington . Guest we are still at a stalemate. There was a latenight meeting between mark meadows, secretary mnuchin and schumer and pelosi. There is talk of a standalone bill to a expand to extend extend Unemployment Insurance. Schumer and pelosi are united, and polling numbers show americans want a massive stimulus package with the American Economy stuttering, so they are insisting on more than a barebones package. They are wanting to see one of and locally, st