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Enough Half-Measures, Congress — Fix The Latest Coronavirus Relief Package

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
APRIL 22, 2020

PRESS CONTACT:
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Enough Half-Measures, Congress — Fix The Latest Coronavirus Relief Package

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The House will soon vote on the Senate-version of another coronavirus relief measure primarily providing funding for struggling small businesses during the pandemic. However, the version of the bill headed to the House still excludes vital needs including bolstered unemployment insurance, help for state and local governments, corporate accountability, hazard pay for essential workers, health care for uninsured people, money for the U.S. Postal Service, protections for our election system — the list of missing items goes on and on. And Mitch McConnell has made it clear that Senate Republicans are not going to take up any of these priorities on their own.

Tax March always stands in solidarity with working- and middle-class people across the country, and that’s why we’re telling the House: Use your power as the Peoples’ House to fix this coronavirus relief package so that it includes necessary support for the American people, or start from scratch.

“Right now, House Democrats have the power to fix this bill and put money where people most need it — for example, in people’s pockets or to the state and local governments desperately in need of aid,” said Tax March Executive Director Maura Quint. “House Democrats cannot vote for this half-measure. Republicans have made it clear they don’t care about the vast majority of Americans. If Democrats are serious about being on the side of low- and middle-income Americans, they’ve got two choices: change this bill before voting on it, or write a new bill on their own terms that actually helps the people we should be fighting for.” 

To the members of the House who have been working hard to advocate for the people, we call on you to put that sentiment into action now — add support for unemployed people, uninsured people, and essential workers to this legislation. 

Funding for small businesses is necessary and good, but it’s not enough by itself to protect people and the economy from the shockwaves of this pandemic now and in the future. Lawmakers who choose to vote in favor of this bill as it stands now are sending a clear signal to the American people that they aren’t listening to us. 

We don’t need your thoughts and prayers, we don’t need half-measures, and we don’t need corporate bail-out funds — we need you to listen to us. We need the House to change this bill so it accomplishes what we, the people, actually need right now. 

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