WASHINGTON, D.C. – On October 1, 2020, Rep. Dean Phillips voted against “HEROES 2.0,” the $2.2 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill offered by Nancy Pelosi and House leadership, joining 17 other Democrats, 189 Republicans and one Independent as the bill passed the House 214 to 207. Phillips released the following statement:
“Having co-led the Problem Solvers Caucus working group that developed the March to Common Ground bipartisan COVID relief framework, my commitment to achieving a solution for Americans remains steadfast.
In light of divided government, legislation must be designed to pass not just the House, but also the Senate, and be signed into law by the President. And, despite my belief in and support of the content of HEROES 2.0, it was not that bill.
Thus, I urge Speaker Pelosi, the Trump Administration and Leader McConnell to meet the moment and immediately come to terms on a bipartisan relief package. The needs are great, the urgency is real, and inaction is not an option.”
HEROES 2.0 has no chance of passing the Senate to reach the President’s desk. Negotiations remain in flux, though a policy framework offered by Phillips and the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus has brought both sides closer to a deal.
Earlier this week, it was widely reported that the “March to Common Ground” policy framework led by Dean Phillips (D-MN), Dusty Johnson (R-SD) and the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus — a group of 25 Democrats and 25 Republicans — was the basis for the reignition of talks between the White House and leaders in Congress towards a coronavirus relief package.