Week Ending August 28, 2020

Congress Must Return to Work and Pass Federal Relief for States, Cities and Towns

Urgent Action Needed to Protect State and Local Jobs and Services

It has been well over three months since the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Heroes Act (H.R. 6800) on May 15, 2020, which provides substantial aid to states, cities and towns, but the Senate still has not acted.

• Pass Pandemic Relief Now: The Heroes Act provides more than $1.2 trillion to states and local governments and school districts, increases Medicaid payments to states and protects workers on the front lines. It also gives front-line workers premium pay, needed unemployment and food assistance and subsidizes 100% of the cost of COBRA health care for those who have lost their jobs. But the bill continues to languish in the Senate, which is in recess until after Labor Day.
• Tell Senators to Get Back to Work: The Senate must act as soon as possible to protect front-line public service workers –health care workers, corrections officers, custodians and others –who have been putting their lives at risk to fight this pandemic. If the Senate doesn’t pass aid for our states, cities, towns and schools, these public service workers could be thanked with pink slips. Already, they are being laid off in alarming numbers when we need them the most.

What You Need to Know: The Senate must act as soon as possible and pass a plan that provides at least $1 trillion in direct, flexible aid to state and local governments, increases funding for Medicaid, and provides additional support for schools to ensure safety and to meet the needs of students learning remotely. It’s not an option to allow more Americans to lose their jobs and essential public services to be shut down. Communities can’t afford to wait. Congress must fund the front lines immediately.