Dear friend,

I write to you at a time when anxiety and fear are growing in our community and across our country due to the spread of COVID-19. The pandemic has hit us particularly early and hard here in Washington state, and I know these have been difficult times for so many of you.

My number one priority is to ensure Congress is doing everything we can to support those working overtime to respond to this pandemic, as well as the working people and families most impacted by this public health emergency.

Last week, thanks to the leadership of House Democrats, the House passed an $8.3 billion package to support science-based public health activities and provide immediate resources to state and local public health agencies and health care workers. On Saturday, just after midnight, the House also passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act — the second piece of emergency legislation — to address the emerging needs of the coronavirus epidemic. It includes enhanced unemployment insurance, paid sick leave for millions of workers, and more than $1 billion for food assistance to kids, working families, and seniors. While this bill is not perfect, it is nonetheless an important step forward to support working families across the country.

I am fighting to improve and build upon this legislation, including ensuring that large corporations extend supportive benefits to all their employees that are, at a minimum, what Congress has mandated smaller businesses to provide. I’m also fighting to ensure that everyone — regardless of immigration status — has access to free COVID-19 testing. This is a public health necessity.

Congress is already working on a third piece of emergency legislation to address the harm this pandemic has inflicted on my district and across the state and nation.

Specifically, I am working to include some of these pieces in any legislation we pass:

• Direct cash support to the most vulnerable, including gig workers, independent contractors, domestic workers, and others who are not covered by the bills we have passed;
• A federal moratorium on evictions and robust housing assistance;
• Protections for the most vulnerable, including those in prisons and immigration detention centers;
• Specific and clear provisions regarding the treatment of immigrant communities;
• More than $3 billion for students and schools to ensure our kids get to stay on track with their education;
• Childcare for struggling parents; and
• Additional support for our small businesses so they can survive this downturn and take care of their employees.

This crisis has showcased what happens when we disinvest in basic government infrastructure, including public health and education. It has revealed the problems with a “me first” instead of a “we first” society, a society that fails to recognize how deeply interconnected we are, and that privileges and prioritizes the wealthy and well-connected over the common good.

Every day is a challenge, but every day is also an opportunity to show the power of what we can do when we act in solidarity.

But this is also a moment when we get to reclaim the best of who we are as human beings and to radically rethink what our society should look like.

Over the coming days and weeks, I hope you will be safe and healthy, and I urge you to implement the public health best practices that we have all been encouraged to take. I know it isn’t easy but practicing physical distancing will save lives in the long-run.

I also hope you will find time to take care of yourself and others, especially elderly neighbors, pregnant people, new parents, and people with disabilities who may need assistance with groceries or household tasks.

I hope you will share where you can since there is always someone who has less.

I hope you will breathe in generosity, love, and abundance, and breathe out anxiety, fear, and scarcity.

I hope you will tell that people you love that you love them — and know that there is no shame in asking for help if you need it.

And I hope you will join me in thanking the many public health workers, first responders, garbage collectors, custodians, truck drivers, government employees, and so many more who are keeping things going during this crisis.

We are strong and resilient. We will weather this together with open hearts — and all the sadness and joy that those open hearts allow us to feel.

Sending you love and justice.

In solidarity,

Pramila