Reps. Reed, Gottheimer: COVID Bill Should Pass Before Holidays

Reps. Tom Reed and Josh Gottheimer, who both worked to craft the latest bipartisan coronavirus stimulus bill, on Thursday called for the measure to be passed before the holidays because the American people need that help. 

"The one piece that we really have to finalize here is the state and local government piece and this is going to require bipartisan support," Reed, R-N.Y., told CNBC's "Squawk Box," where he appeared with Gottheimer, his co-chair of the House Problem Solvers Caucus. "It's time to listen to the American people and as Josh said, get it done. It's time to do it, let's get it done before the holidays."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer both back a bipartisan $908 billion COVID relief package unveiled earlier this week, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has not yet agreed. 

But Gottheimer said Thursday he believes there is now momentum going that will get the emergency package into law. 

"You've got Democrats and Republicans both from the House and the Senate backing an emergency relief package, and I think there's a deep recognition that we've got to get something done now people are really hurting," said Gotthiemer. "Small businesses are going out, our local governments need help, and our states need help, and we've got to deliver it before we go home for the holidays. I think right now is the moment where it's going to get done."

The bill is not perfect, Reed acknowledged, but it is a "compromise bill that can bring people together."

"That's what we demonstrated with the nine senators and 50 members of the Problem Solvers Caucus when we stood there together and rolled it out said this is where we can find common ground," said Reed. 

McConnell has agreed to a targeted bill of between $500 billion to $600 billion, and Reed said that people are moving "on both sides, moving from the range of unreasonable into the range of reason."

"The numbers are reasonable," he added. "They're based on what the American people and American businesses need today, and that's where this package is so important, and it's bringing people to that common ground area, and that's how the sausage is made in Washington, D.C."

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