Progressives Pledge to Keep Fighting for Coronavirus Relief that Puts People First
WASHINGTON - After the Senate passed a $2 trillion CARES Act Coronavirus relief package, the Progressive Caucus Action Fund released an analysis comparing the Senate compromise legislation to House Democrats’ initial proposal.
People need help and they need it now. Congress should move swiftly to deliver relief to millions. The progressive movement fought hard to improve the third coronavirus relief package. Importantly, this package puts money in the pockets of struggling families, expands unemployment assistance, provides a $100 billion infusion for our hospitals, provides $150 billion in relief to state and local governments providing essential services, includes significant funding for education, keeps millions of workers on payroll, helps small businesses, and gives families a limited amount of immediate cash assistance. This relief will make a real difference in the lives of millions of Americans. But there’s still much more work to do.
“The guardrails on the billions for industry in this package are strengthened but should be even stronger. More oversight is needed. At every stage in the process, Republicans have tried to insert poison pills and weaken protections for workers. Our movement won’t stop fighting until we get relief for everyone,” said Liz Watson, Executive Director of the Progressive Caucus Action Fund.
“Washington needs to get money to people who are struggling right now. While industries are getting what they asked for, families still need much more support,” said Watson.
This cannot be the last coronavirus bill. Congress must immediately start work on a fourth package that includes relief missing from the current package:
Ensure doctors, nurses and other frontline workers have the personal protective equipment and other supplies they desperately need to save their lives and the lives of their patients.
Immediately implement an emergency OSHA standard to protect health care workers and other frontline workers.
Expand paid sick and paid family and medical leave to all workers and provide further layoff prevention measures.
Extend health care coverage at no out-of-pocket cost, protections and assistance to everyone, including immigrant families, people in detention, people with disabilities, people experiencing homelessness, and more.
Provide additional cash assistance payments.
Fund further housing assistance and protect consumers from going into debt.
Increase SNAP benefits.
Keep all companies receiving aid from laying off any employees, putting their workers at risk, and violating existing collective bargaining agreements.
Provide additional support for child care providers and people who need emergency child care.
Provide for full student debt cancellation.
Close the “homework gap” for kids whose schools are closed.
Increase funding for vote at home and early voting.
Stronger oversight of aid to industry.
The Progressive Caucus Action Fund released a comparison of the bipartisan deal and the House Democratic proposal. It is available on the Progressive Caucus Action Fund website here: www.progressivecaucusactionfund.org/s/Final-bill-v-House-D-bill.pdf
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The Progressive Caucus Action Fund (PCAF) is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit that is working across the progressive movement to build infrastructure, secure real wins in the House of Representatives, and amplify the successes of progressive champions nationwide. Learn more at www.progressivecaucusactionfund.org.