FILE – In this file photo from May 20, 2020, Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, wears an Ohio State University mask as the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committee meets on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 10:48 AM PT — Wednesday, July 29, 2020
Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) is calling on Congress to extend federal unemployment benefits before they expire Friday.
In an interview Wednesday, Portman said lawmakers cannot allow the nation to go through a period where there is no unemployment insurance going out to people.
The Ohio Republican said unemployed workers will be hurt if the $600 unemployment benefit ends completely.
Portman also called the GOP’s new stimulus proposal a good starting point and expressed support for it’s approach to unemployment benefits.
“On the unemployment insurance front, the 70 percent of wages is something that a lot of folks would appreciate, including the people who were just polled,” he stated. “If they were told that if you lose your job you can have 70 percent wage replacement, that’s generous…that’s more generous than the states provide currently and that’s where the McConnell proposal ends up. to work bonus.”
The next COVID response package should strengthen our health care response and bolster safety efforts in our communities, classrooms, offices & businesses.
That means more testing, PPE, contact tracing, & resources for #COVID19 related research. pic.twitter.com/QbVq5d4rb9
— Rob Portman (@senrobportman) July 28, 2020
Sen. Portman also said lawmakers want people to return to work safely.
RELATED: Sen. Graham introduces bill to bring PPE production to the U.S.
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