Hello friend,
It’s been a while since we last spoke—and the world is a very different place now. So I want to take the time today to give you an update on the work I’ve done over the last few months.
Throughout March and April, Susan and I were fortunate to have our girls—Caroline, Halina, and Anne—with us in Colorado. We spent the time at home, doing our part to flatten the curve.
Since the pandemic began, I’ve spoken with tens of thousands of constituents via Zoom videos and conference calls, learning about what’s keeping them up at night, how their businesses are affected, how their kids are doing in school, and what the Senate can do to help.
While I was energized by the resolve, strength, and innovativeness of Coloradans, these conversations also reminded me just how out of touch Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell, and their allies are with the crisis faced by hard-working Americans.
This is simply unacceptable, and it’s why I’ve been in Washington this week with my Senate colleagues to fight for relief for the families and workers who need it most.
Here are a few of the changes I’m fighting for:
- Providing personal protective equipment (PPE) to those who need it most: Doctors, nurses, and other frontline healthcare workers face grave shortages of masks, gloves, and other protective equipment—as do our food industry workers who are doing the hard work of keeping Americans fed throughout the crisis.
- Supporting workers, families, and small businesses in a struggling economy: In times of economic crisis, we should have an automatic and immediate response to support families and businesses—including direct cash payments, unemployment insurance, expanded SNAP nutrition benefits, and increased Medicaid support. We also need to fix issues with PPP so we can give better-targeted relief to hard-hit businesses, such as restaurants and hotels.
- Increased support for state and local governments: We need to increase funding so local governments aren’t forced to lay off teachers, police officers, and fire fighters, or shortchange critical repairs to our roads and bridges. This includes at least $500 billion for states and $250 billion for local governments.
I won’t lie – these are huge goals. But the scope of the recovery must match the unprecedented scale of this crisis.
I know you may feel frustrated or even hopeless, but the best way to help is by staying home, wearing your mask, and following the guidance from your local health department. Although it may feel like you aren’t doing much, we're starting to see the difference that can make in Colorado.
If you’re looking for more ways to help, I spent a day volunteering with the Food Bank of the Rockies in Denver, staying distant and delivering fresh food boxes to Coloradans. As people across the country face record levels of food insecurity, mobile food pantries like this one are taking on ever-growing importance. If you’re financially able, making a donation to them, or your local food bank, would be greatly appreciated.
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I know times may seem dark now. But I also know we live in a country that is up to the challenge we face. It won’t be a short fight—or an easy one—but if we unite around a common goal, we will make our world a safer, healthier, stronger place for this generation and the next.
Together,
Michael |
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