In the midst of negotiations over COVID-19 relief legislation, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) earlier this month proposed an amendment which would provide direct payments of $1,200 to all Americans and $500 per child to families. Sen. Hawley has since expressed strong opposition to any effort by Congress to pass a bill without direct assistance to working Americans.

In response, Terry Schilling, executive director of American Principles Project, released the following statement supporting Sen. Hawley’s stand:

There has been much talk lately of the Republican Party becoming the party of working families. This is an encouraging development — it represents a move toward a more robust conservatism as well as a path to an enduring majority. But for this political dream to become reality, the GOP must more consistently prioritize the interests of working families. Senator Josh Hawley fundamentally understands this.

If Congress is going to pass another COVID-19 relief package, its centerpiece should be getting direct assistance to working families. We agree with Senator Hawley that this bill should feature a provision similar to what was included in the CARES Act earlier this year — direct assistance to working families in the amount of $1,200 per individual and $500 per child. Corporate handouts and ‘Blue State Bailouts’ should come last, if at all.

We urge Congress to include direct assistance to working families as a provision in the final COVID-19 bill — and urge opposition to any ‘relief’ legislation that fails to include relief for working families.

To schedule an interview with an APP policy expert, contact Paul Dupont at (o) 202-503-2010 or pdupont@americanprinciplesproject.org.