Week Ending February 12, 2021
House Prepares Biden Rescue Plan with $350 Billion in State and Local Aid. Call your Representative to Support this Today!
- Fund the Front Lines Updates
- COVID Aid Package Includes $350 Billion in Aid for States, Cities and Towns
- AFSCME, Allies Urge Congress to Support Biden Rescue Plan, State and Local Aid
- AFSCME Member Spotlight – Front-Line Workers Like Valerie Martinez Counting on Congress
- Biden Administration Update
- Biden Defends Health Care Protections, Reverses Trump Actions
COVID Aid Package Includes $350 Billion in Aid for States, Cities and Towns
This week the House drafted pieces of the COVID aid package to include President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan. Here is an outline of key provisions and tables that show the funding breakout for $350 billion in aid for states, cities and counties. A floor vote could come as early as the week of Feb. 22 with a Senate vote shortly after.
AFSCME, Allies Urge Congress to Support Biden Rescue Plan, State and Local Aid
Last week AFSCME sent over 3,500 calls and emails to key members of Congress in support of the American Rescue Plan. Affiliates weighed in with letters, supporting the inclusion of $350 billion for state and local aid. And our allies, local mayors, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and over 600 state and local elected officials shared our message in this letter.
But we can’t let up now. If you haven’t yet, there’s still time to submit letters of support from your affiliate and to call Congress to support the American Rescue Plan with $350 billion in aid for essential public services.
Call Your U.S. Representative
at 1-855-329-5629 and say:
“More state and local aid is needed to beat this pandemic and get our economy back on track. I urge you to support the $1.9 billion American Rescue Plan. We can’t afford anything less.”
AFSCME Member Spotlight – Front-Line Workers Like Valerie Martinez Counting on Congress
For nearly a year, public service heroes have been on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19, doing everything in their power to serve their communities. Valerie Martinez is a senior social caseworker trying to keep children and families safe in Westchester County, N.Y. Dangerous under normal circumstances, her job is harder in a pandemic. Federal aid is essential, so she can confirm or deny first-hand allegations of child abuse and neglect and keep children safe. Tell Congress what this aid will do by telling your stories. Share with us how you make a difference.
Biden Defends Health Care Protections, Reverses Trump Actions
The Supreme Court is considering a case against the Affordable Care Act (ACA) which matters to every family in the country. The Trump administration had argued for the total undoing of all ACA provisions, even those that protected individuals with preexisting conditions. The Biden administration has reversed this position, telling the Supreme Court that the ACA is constitutional, and all its provisions should be upheld.