CNN "The Situation Room" - Transcript: Interview with Senator Chris Coons

Interview

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[18:19:10]

BLITZER: There's breaking news.

Leaders on both sides of the aisle say Congress potentially could be on the verge of passing a major new relief package for millions of Americans who are suffering right now.

We're joined now by a key Democratic senator, Chris Coons of Delaware.

Senator, thank you so much for joining us.

Let me get your reaction to this -- the latest developments in the coronavirus relief proposal.

I spoke in the last hour with your colleague Senator Bernie Sanders, who said that what's happening right now seems to be a good start, simply not enough.

What's your take?

SEN. CHRIS COONS (D-DE): Well, Wolf, I'm optimistic, I'm even excited about the progress that's been made this week.

I'm grateful to the bipartisan group of eight senators, two House members, who labored for weeks to break the months-long impasse on COVID relief, came forward with a $900 billion framework that would deliver extended unemployment benefits, help for those facing eviction from their apartments or homes, support for hospitals and schools, for vaccine distribution, and a big new round of support for small businesses struggling to stay open or who need help to reopen.

[18:20:16]

This $900 billion package is a strong and good framework. It seems likely that it will include a significant number of direct payments to millions of Americans as well. And I, frankly, am optimistic.

We can't go home without passing a next big package of relief for the American people. This isn't the last time we will need to do this. This will get us through what is a hard winter ahead. But it'll give us hope that, as all of us look forward to a moment when vaccination ends the pandemic in these United States, that there is help on the way from Washington.

BLITZER: Because the -- as you point out correctly, the proposal does include some direct payments to Americans in need, maybe not as much as many senators would like, but significant sums of money.

It comes as new research shows a staggering 7.8 million Americans have fallen into poverty since the summer alone. They used to have jobs. They used to work. They used to provide for their families. Now they're actually in poverty, suffering.

Do you believe the direct stimulus checks that will be included, we hope in this package, will be enough for these folks to deal with?

COONS: Well, Wolf, if you look back nine months to when we passed the CARES Act, $2.3 trillion that was passed unanimously by the Senate, and included around of $1,200 checks to 80 million American families, that was enough to keep folks afloat and out of poverty through the summer.

It began to run out. Some of the unemployment assistance, some of the other support began to run out as we got near the end of the year. It is past time for us to address those eight million Americans who've fallen into poverty. All of us have seen record long lines and food banks all over the United States.

Here in the wealthiest country on Earth, we should not be seeing millions and millions of Americans falling into poverty, particularly as we near the end of this year and as we go into the holiday season. I do think we can and should come together on a bipartisan basis once again and pass badly needed COVID relief for the American people.

BLITZER: So, you will vote for this legislation.

COONS: Yes.

BLITZER: It's a compromise, but a significant step forward.

When do you hope the deal will actually be reached? When will there be a vote? And when will the president actually sign it into law?

COONS: Well, there's two bills moving at the same time, Wolf. One is the annual appropriations bill. That's about $1.4 trillion. And

this additional stimulus for the COVID relief response is going to ride on top of it. That should happen in the next two days. We should have an introduced bill and be able to move forward on voting on this, I hope, by Friday, maybe be done by Saturday.

There are, of course, always members of the Senate who have competing ideas and try and slow things down or hold things up. And we're going to have to work through that process. But, frankly, we should not leave for the holidays until we resolve this. My hope, we will have it enacted by the weekend.

BLITZER: People are desperate, in desperate need right now. And you shouldn't leave until you get it done.

Very quickly, while I have you, Senator, your colleague Senator Bernie Sanders, I spoke with him in the last hour, once again. He says he's deeply disappointed by the lack of what he calls progressive Cabinet picks in the incoming Biden/Harris team.

What's your reaction to that?

COONS: Well, I was excited today to hear from the president-elect that Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend is nominated to be the next transportation secretary.

I think, as there's been announcement after announcement from Wilmington, Delaware, we are seeing Joe Biden, our president-elect, build a team that is capable, that is experienced, that represents the best of America, and will be ready to govern and lead on day one.

We face a lot of challenges and crises in this country. And we need a seasoned and capable team that will work well together to do that. There's folks as part of this team that reflect the whole range of ideas and ideology within the Democratic Party.

I will remind you, Pete Buttigieg was one of Joe Biden's opponents in the presidential primaries. And I think he will bring skill and experience as a municipal leader to putting together an infrastructure package that we badly need to create good new American jobs.

BLITZER: Clearly, you and Senator Bernie Sanders have a little bit of a disagreement on that.

COONS: Yes.

BLITZER: But we will leave it on that note.

Senator Coons, as usual, thank you so much for joining us.

COONS: Thank you, Wolf.

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