JUDY WOODRUFF: The economic crisis stemming
from the COVID-19 pandemic has worn on for
months now. Congress is still a long way from
passing a new round of economic relief, and
one of the limited actions that President
Trump took a few weeks ago is still in the
middle of being implemented.
Here to explain where things stand is our
own Lisa Desjardins.
So, hello, Lisa.
We know there are something like 27 million
Americans who are receiving some form of unemployment
benefits, and it was just a matter of weeks
ago that President Trump promised an additional
$300 a week. But the states had to sign on.
What do we know about where all that stands?
LISA DESJARDINS: Judy, nearly every state
has to apply to get that money. But it's interesting.
They have to make a choice to do it.
States can either ask for $300 per person,
and because of some creative guidance by the
Trump administration, the state doesn't have
to contribute anything, or the state could
choose to add another $100 on its own, for
$400 a week for each unemployed person.
But the trick is, Judy, each state has a different
system. Many are outdated, so it is taking
weeks, in some cases maybe months, for the
states to process and get this going.
So let's explain what is happening through
a series of maps. First of all, let's look
at this. Look at the red state here, South
Dakota. That is the only state that has declined
to participate, that state saying that its
economy is good, it doesn't need that extra
money.
Now, the next series, let's look at these
five states. These are the five states that
have decided to give $400 a week for their
unemployed. That is their plan. But, as you
can see here in yellow, nearly every other
state is opting for that $300, because most
states say they just don't have the budget
to contribute themselves.
Now, Judy, here's the big question, though.
How many workers are seeing this money right
now? Those are these states. Just five states
so far have been able to get out this extra,
in most cases, $300 per person.
And, Judy, this money is coming from a disaster
fund that is also meant for hurricanes. That
money is running out quickly. We're not sure
how long it will last. There is a race to
get this money. And it seems that maybe only
four or five weeks total will be available
for any state.
JUDY WOODRUFF: And, Lisa, if you step back,
what does this mean for people who are counting
on this money? I know our team has reached
out to number of -- a number of people who
are unemployed.
LISA DESJARDINS: That's right.
We spent a day -- the day today really talking
to a lot of people. And, Judy, it was $600
additional that these unemployed workers were
getting. But that ran out weeks ago. And Congress
has sort of been stuck in negotiations since.
So, for many of these families, that's $3,000
less that they have. And that means a lot
of anxiety. I have heard of families cutting
back, trying to pool resources, but they're
just not sure how long they will be able to
make it with those tactics.
And, in fact, one of those people is Elizabeth
Bartholomew from Grand Rapids, Michigan. She
is an event planner who lost her job because
of the coronavirus.
ELIZABETH BARTHOLOMEW, Michigan: Before this,
my husband and I kind of shared mortgage and
split up our bills and stuff. And now all
of that is on him.
And so I think he feels a lot of pressure
because of that. And my -- whatever little
I make is just -- I'm -- I'm buying groceries
for my kids.
LISA DESJARDINS: That theme of family and
trying to help people who depend on you was
apparent.
Another quote, this one from a woman named
Kim in Mesa, Arizona. She was a church coordinator
who -- also laid off because of the coronavirus.
She told us: "It's pretty much between the
choices of paying car insurance at this point
or buying food or keeping the Internet on
for my children, who are paying to go to college
online."
So, Judy, a lot of very difficult choices
right now. People telling us they're getting
creative, but they're not sure how long this
can last. And anxiety is rising very quickly.
JUDY WOODRUFF: And, meanwhile, Lisa, everybody
is looking to the Congress to see what they
are up to, where everything stands. What do
you know?
LISA DESJARDINS: That's the frustrating part.
All of these people agree they expected Congress
to come through with something by now. But
Congress is still negotiating. Senate Republicans,
I'm told, feel that they are close to having
their own plan, a small plan dealing with
unemployment and small businesses, largely.
But it remains to be seen, Judy. And one issue
is that the House itself is only supposed
to be in session for three weeks in September.
So, everyone agrees, experts, unemployed,
everyone, that September is the window to
get this done. And if Congress isn't able
to come up with more relief, then we will
have a more serious economic problem very
soon.
JUDY WOODRUFF: A lot of people waiting to
see what happens.
Lisa Desjardins, following it all for us,
thank you.
LISA DESJARDINS: You're welcome.
