Hi John, 

We hope you and your loved ones remain safe. Let’s dive in to the latest:
 
On top of another 6.6 million jobless claims this week, the Harvard Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment released a study that finds long-term exposure to air pollution increases the likelihood of death from  COVID-19. African-Americans, who are disproportionately exposed to higher concentrations of air pollutants, are also dying at higher rates from COVID-19. African-Americans have long suffered as a result of poor environmental policymaking, a problem that COVID-19 has only exacerbated. It’s often been said that when white America catches a cold, black America gets pneumonia. This is one of the structural flaws of American society that have been amplified in this crisis. We have long advocated for policies that would correct this deadly failure. We must hold policymakers accountable as we respond and recover from the pandemic by making clean energy a high priority. Lives are at stake.
 
“Infrastructure Week” has been a long-running joke inside the Beltway, but this week, we argue that it’s no longer funny. As lawmakers continue to debate the next phases of economic rescue and recovery, it’s imperative that they set their sights on infrastructure to help create jobs and prepare the nation for future shocks like climate change. 
 
And don’t forget to sign up for The Economics of COVID-19 with Dr. Ellen Hughes-Cromwick for daily analysis of what’s happening during the COVID-19 economic recovery from former Obama Commerce Chief Economist Ellen Hughes-Cromwick.

Repairing the Road to Recovery

With this week’s new, dismal unemployment claims report, it’s clear that saving and creating jobs will be essential to help the US economy recover from the COVID-19 crisis. In our new memo, Resilient and Ready for Recovery, Third Way Policy Advisor Alex Laska says adding infrastructure into the next wave of stimulus packages has the potential to put millions to work and reduce emissions. By prioritizing the assets we already have, we can avoid unnecessary new construction, help US roads and bridges withstand severe weather linked to climate change, and reduce emissions by decreasing vehicle miles traveled (VMT). A thoughtful infrastructure package would also invest in the future by building out zero-emissions vehicle refueling and charging infrastructure. Read more about it here. 

What Does Infrastructure Look Like During the COVID-19 Recovery?

We’re constantly looking for new ideas for virtual panels and events, if there are topics you would like to see us cover, reach out to me directly at [email protected]!