Senator Schumer: “Leader McConnell, let’s get moving. Pass this package as is, ASAP”

h. nazan ışık—

14 March 2020—

Mayor Bill de Blasio and US Senator Chuck Schumer hold a press conference on Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Saturday, 14 March at City Hall.

Mayor de Blasio started his remarks by confirming the first death of New Yorker, an 82-year-old woman, who previously had been diagnosed with emphysema, who died related to coronavirus. And he continued with the latest figures.

“The number of cases continues to grow in New York City. As of 10:00 am today (Saturday, 14 March) we are at 183 cases and that is 29 new since we gathered together late yesterday afternoon,” said Mr. de Blasio.

Mayor de Blasio introduced Minority Leader of the US Senate, Senator Chuck Schumer: “His name originates from a word that is translated as guardian. And he has been our guardian in this crisis; he has stepped up in an extraordinary fashion.”

Senator Chuck Schumer greeted Mayor de Blasio with an “elbow bump”.

Senator Schumer:“ What we passed last night or what the House passed last night is a lifeline.”

Senator Schumer holding the proposal, which the Congress passed on Friday. (Photo : h. nazan ışık/NKENdiKEN)

“I am really glad that Congress took action and our action was aimed at families, working people who were affected and need the help most desperately. And we passed the kinds of things that matter to them.

Free testing for the coronavirus.

We strengthened food assistance to both the elderly and the kids who were not in school for whatever reason.

We enhance unemployment aid.

Established paid leave: 14 days of full payment sick leave, three months of family leave; first two weeks are full payment and the rest is two- thirds. The part time workers would get paid their part-time salaries under both the sick leave and the paid family leave.

It doesn’t have to be a confirmed case – you have to show on family leave that you – if your child is home, if your loved one is home, if your parent is very sick, it would apply to all of them. And unlike most family leave where you get off but they can’t fire you, here you get two-thirds pay.

Safe guards Medicaid benefits,

That’s FMAP (Federal Medical Assistance Percentages). There are lots of benefits for New York, but none is bigger than what’s called FMAP, FMAP is Medicaid and we have the largest Medicaid population in the country. A total of $6.2 billion is for the state on an annual basis. And New York City gets $1 billion,” said Senator Schumer.

And he continued: “It was disgraceful that Leader McConnell left town last night. The Congress, the House was debating and voting. We could have had this done already, but he left. But now I am calling on Leader McConnell to move this package immediately when we return on Monday—as is.”

Mayor de Blasio joined Senator Schumer to rebuke Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for leaving Washington.Senator Chuck Schumer, who attended Saturday’s press conference with de Blasio, when left he elbow bumped, instead of handshakes, as he did when he arrived.(Photo: h. nazan ışık/NKENdiKEN)

Mayor de Bilasio: “There you go. See? New habits. And Senator, thank you. You are allowed to do it, elbow bump, everyone is.”