Act Now: Tell Congress COVID-19 Stimulus Must Focus on the Health and Well-Being of Communities, Not Billionaires

Some in the Senate are trying to force through billions of dollars in bailouts for the ultra-rich and big corporations with no strings attached. We can’t let them.

The economic fallout of the COVID-19 outbreak is hitting home, and Congress is working to respond quickly with funding to address lost pay, layoffs and forced shutdowns that too many are experiencing. But we can’t repeat the same mistakes of the 2008 financial crisis, when big banks and corporations got bailed out while the rest of us had to foot the bill. The proposal in question would have given the lowest-earning workers just $600 in cash assistance. We need to demand better for all of our communities, including immigrant workers who Republicans were trying to exclude from receiving vital assistance in their bill.

The latest news is that Democrats in the Senate and House were able to block Republicans’ terrible stimulus bill last night! Another vote is expected today. Contact our members of Congress now at https://actionnetwork.org/letters/demand-a-just-stimulus-in-response-to-covid-19 and tell them to pass a just stimulus that focuses on the health and wellbeing of our communities, not tax cuts and bailouts for unaccountable billionaires.

A just stimulus must:

• Hold corporations accountable. Ensure funds to corporations are used to maintain payroll and benefits, not executive bonuses or stock buybacks.
• Address the crisis, not pander to hate. Include all families in the stimulus regardless of immigration status and reject Republicans’ attempts to exclude tax filers who have worked and earned income but file using an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.
• Rescue small businesses. Provide $1 trillion in funding to small businesses so they can keep staff on payroll.
• Guarantee paid sick days. Provide 14 paid sick days immediately to every worker in America, and 3 months of COVID-19-related paid family and medical leave.
• Cancel student loan debt. Cancel at least $10,000 per borrower in federal student debt to provide immediate economic stimulus and lessen the debt burden on those most impacted by the crisis.
• Dramatically reduce the number of people detained in federal jails and prisons. Prioritize the release of high-risk populations including those who are pregnant, elderly, or living with chronic illness or disabilities.

People are the heart of an economy. Any stimulus package needs to make sure people’s basic needs are met during this forced economic shutdown, that small businesses can continue paying workers and that money flows to those most in need.

Congress is finalizing this economic stimulus package right now. It’s important that your member of Congress gets your message. Click here to tell them to put people first, not the profits of billionaires and the ultra rich.