Hi there -- I hope you're well and, if you're able, I hope you're staying home and social distancing. I haven't reached out to you in a little while via email -- like many Americans, I've been grappling with our newfound reality created by the coronavirus pandemic.

I want you to know that I've been working with health care professionals and organizations, my colleagues in Congress, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, and state and local officials to address this health crisis and get help to hardworking Americans quickly.

I know that you've likely heard from many of our leaders about the threat the coronavirus poses to our economic security, but I want to be absolutely clear that our first and foremost priority needs to be protecting lives by stopping the spread of the coronavirus.

Because if we don't first protect Americans, there won't be an economy left to rescue.

That's why I worked with my Senate colleagues to pass a stimulus package that will give Americans the support they need during this challenging time.

Here are some of the things the legislation includes:

It puts up to $1,200 directly in the pockets of all middle-class and low-income Americans, and provides $500 per child.
It increases unemployment insurance by up to $600 per week, and it ensures self-employed, part-time, and contract workers also have access to unemployment benefits.
It allocates emergency relief funding to the state of Ohio as well as as funding for health care organizations and small businesses.
It prohibits evictions and foreclosures during the pandemic and provides up to one year in mortgage forbearance for homeowners to make sure no one has to worry about keeping a roof over their head during this health crisis.
It suspends federal student loan payments through September.

Of course, there is still a lot to do:

We need to do more to help students who are worried about being able to pay off their student loan debt.
We need to help manufacturers as they scale up production to provide vital medical equipment, including ventilators and protective gear for health care workers.
And we need to make sure there is robust oversight to ensure critical funding ends up with those who need it -- workers, not CEOs.

Lastly, I want to thank you for doing your part to stop the spread of the coronavirus. And I want to thank the front line workers -- the health care workers, grocery store employees, truck drivers, nursing home staff, journalists, and so many others -- who don't have the option to stay home and are doing so much to keep us all safe and healthy. I'm pushing to make sure they are kept safe on the job, and get the Pandemic Premium Pay they deserve.

If we all continue to work together, I know we can get through this difficult time.

It's so important that we stay connected and informed right now, so if you can, please take a moment to forward this email to five friends.

With gratitude,

Sherrod


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