National Economic Council Director Brian Deese on Thursday reacted to the latest Labor Department Unemployment Claims Report, saying “this morning’s report on new unemployment claims is another stark reminder that we must act now on the President’s American Rescue Plan to get immediate relief to families and spur our economy.”
He said “900,000 more Americans filed claims for unemployment because they are out of work in an economy that is moving in the wrong direction.” “We must act now to get this virus under control, stabilize the economy, and reduce the long-term scarring that will only worsen if bold action isn’t taken.”
Deese said “the President has outlined a set of decisive actions in the American Rescue Plan to extend unemployment insurance, finish the job in providing $2,000 in direct relief to Americans, and ensure that millions of our families who are struggling to make ends meet, put food on the table, and keep a roof over their head in the midst of this crisis are able to get to the other side with dignity.”
“It’s critical that Congress act quickly on the President’s proposals and provide relief for families in need,” he added.
Simon Ateba is Chief White House Correspondent for Today News Africa. Simon covers President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, the U.S. government, the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other financial and international institutions in Washington D.C. and New York City.