House Speaker Nancy Pelosi repeated a phrase throughout her update this morning on the latest federal response to the coronavirus: "Testing, testing, testing."
The speaker said testing is "so very important, to take inventory, to understand the epidemiological spread of the virus, and also to meet the needs of the people affected."
She confirmed that Democrats and Republicans are working closely to pass a bill today that would provide additional protections, and free testing, following an $8.3 billion aid package last week. "No one will say I can't afford it," she said.
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act would ensure free coronavirus testing, paid emergency sick leave, expanded unemployment insurance, increased protections for health care workers on the frontline, and food security initiative for children while schools are closed.
The bill is currently being debated in the House, but the clock is ticking as lawmakers consider whether they should leave the capital out of an abundance of caution.
When asked if House Democrats would stick around if a deal was not made within the next two days, Pelosi insisted lawmakers would get it done.
"We don't need 48 hours. We need to make a decision to help families now," she said.
"If people have to stay home, we have to stay home, but we don't want people to panic," Pelosi added but held off from outlining further plans to address the virus.
"We're here to pass a bill. When we pass a bill, we'll make a judgment about what comes next," she said.
As an addendum to her update on the coronavirus response, the speaker chimed in on the Democratic primary race.
"In case you were going to ask, no, I don't think Bernie Sanders should get out of the race. I'm a grassroots person. I'm chair of the California Democratic Party. I know the enthusiasm of supporters of candidates, and they want to see it play out."
Chicago-based cannabis company Cresco Labs unveiled a new dispensary and retail cannabis shop concept on Monday. Called Sunnyside, the concept emphasizes health and wellness and aims to create an accessible, immersive retail environment that pushes Cresco along on its mission of creating a nationally-recognizable cannabis brand.
The California Democrat said that supportis growing, pointing to five more members of his party who have come to support impeachment proceedings since Mueller's testimony.
Shares of CannTrust surged 15 percent on Friday after the Canadian cannabis company announced it terminated CEO Peter Aceto in the midst of regulatory drama that has plundered the company's stock value. Jefferies' analyst Ryan Tomkins predicted the management shuffle in a Wednesday note, which called management's positions "untenable."
These are the headlines you Need 2 Know for Friday, July 26, 2019.
Richard Painter, former chief White House ethics lawyer during the George W. Bush administration, says Democrats should still open an impeachment inquiry into the president despite the tepid response to Mueller's testimony.
Amid ongoing resistance from employees about Microsoft’s contracts with the U.S. military, CEO Satya Nadella issued a broad defense this week of the company’s work with the U.S government and said America’s democratic process serves as a key check on the deployment of new technology.
These are the headlines you Need 2 Know for Thursday, July 25, 2019.
These are the headlines you Need 2 Know for Wednesday, July 24, 2019.
With all eyes on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, former Special Counsel Robert Mueller began his much-anticipated testimony by largely repeating what he outlined in April in his report on Russian interference in the 2016 election, - but stating very clearly that in the investigation, “the president was not exculpated for the acts that he allegedly committed.”
Tuesday’s 97-2 vote in the Senate to extend permanent protections for 9/11 first responders came after many years of activists' visits to Capitol Hill. And minutes after the lopsided vote, responder John Feal made sure to alert lawmakers that his days of tirelessly knocking down their doors are thankfully coming to a close, saying, "We’ll put down our swords."
