From the Coalition on Human Needs (http://www.chn.org):
The House of Representatives did their job. They passed the HEROES Act back in mid-May. This crucial legislation includes aid to our states with funds to prevent cuts to essential services like education, health care and public safety; funding for coronavirus medical treatment and testing; direct aid for struggling families; a boost to SNAP nutrition assistance; increases to housing support; extensions of jobless benefits and paid leave; the ability for people to vote by mail this November; and repeals $250 billion in tax handouts to millionaire business owners.
But the Senate has yet to act, refusing to protect families from evictions, hunger and financial insecurity—instead going on a two-week Fourth of July recess.
Already, over 100,000 have signed the petition demanding the U.S. Senate pass legislation to deliver direct aid to families, communities and frontline workers who need it most. Can you sign on at https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/tell-the-us-senate-to-pass-legislation-to-deliver-direct-aid-to-families-who-need-it-most-not-more-handouts-to-corporations-and-the-rich to help us reach 200,000 signers before we deliver this petition to Mitch McConnell and all U.S. Senators?
Tens of millions of Americans have lost their jobs since the onset of this pandemic. We are facing near-depression level job losses—and we need continued, effective aid packages by the federal government sufficient to address threats to our health and our economy through and beyond the pandemic.
First and foremost, we need to get money in people’s hands.
Hardship and hunger throughout the United States are dramatically increasing; homelessness is on the rise. And states throughout our country are hemorrhaging money and need to have the federal government serve as a backstop.
There is no time to delay. But that is exactly what Mitch McConnell is doing!
The House of Representatives passed the wide-ranging HEROES Act nearly two months ago. This legislation provides more than $1 trillion to support the budgets of states and localities to prevent cuts to essential services provided by frontline workers, teachers, first responders, health care and other workers, nearly a million of whom have already been laid off. It provides funding for medical care and testing, extended jobless benefits and paid leave, housing assistance and food security. This measure also ensures Americans will have the ability to vote by mail this fall.
It is well-past time for Mitch McConnell to stop playing games, and start legislating.
Together, we will fight to ensure that the Senate passes legislation that puts money in the hands of cash-strapped Americans, not be used to create more tax-giveaways for the wealthiest people in our country. When Mitch McConnell gets back to the Senate from his two-week Fourth of July vacation, we are going to make sure he knows that Americans are demanding action.
We can’t stand by and let Mitch McConnell play politics with people’s lives. Let’s demand the Senate provide people with the relief measures they desperately need and deserve.
Thank you for your support during this challenging time.
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