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Posted: 2020-04-23T23:52:14Z | Updated: 2020-04-24T17:05:30Z

The four progressive members of Congress known as the Squad are pressing House Democratic leaders to provide a clear timeline for a vote on a more ambitious Phase 4 relief package to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

The House easily passed an interim stimulus bill on Thursday that was crafted in the Republican-controlled Senate with input from House Democratic leaders.

Of the four Squad members, only Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) voted against the legislation. Democratic Reps. Rashida Tlaib (Mich.), Ayanna Pressley (Mass.) and Ilhan Omar (Minn.) cast votes for the relief bill, which provides nearly $500 billion in new aid for small businesses, hospitals and testing equipment.

But the progressive lawmakers, like many left-wing activists outside Congress, all also denounced the bill as inadequate. They are calling for additional aid to cities and states, an increase in food stamp assistance, national measures to protect renters from eviction, and the inclusion of undocumented immigrants in new benefits.