The failed leadership of the Trump administration and Senate majority leadership in response to the crises we are confronting — the COVID-19 pandemic, police brutality and the inequality of black people, and the looming economic recession – has put millions of people into deep distress and taken a toll on our economy. For one of the wealthiest countries to ignore the struggles of everyday people and their families is why we at Rights & Democracy and our national affiliates are demanding that our Senate leaders do their job when they return to Washington, DC next week.
Since the pandemic hit, forty-seven million Americans have applied for unemployment, and over 25 million Americans will lose the $600 boost to unemployment benefits if the CARES Act is allowed to expire at the end of July. It’s going to take our economy a long time to recover and extending the enhanced unemployment insurance benefits in the CARES Act is imperative to ensure that our people recover too.
The House passed the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act (HEROES), Act two months ago but the Senate has yet to take it up, despite our growing economic and health crises. However, the HEROES Act is only a starting point. The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly illuminated the need for a relief package that includes everyone.
We are calling for a true People’s Bailout. This legislation would guarantee health care during the pandemic; cancel rent and end evictions; provide emergency money for the people; extend pandemic unemployment insurance; cancel student debt; and fund green jobs for a just long-term recovery and equitable future. If we pass a People’s Bailout, we can save lives, create a just recovery, and lay the foundation for a healthier, more equitable future, but the Senate must act NOW! Join us in calling for a People’s Bailout and make your voice heard!