|
|
Breaking news, Friend, just yesterday, the U.S. House released a new phase of the COVID-19 relief package, the HEROES Act. Because of the efforts of fearless MomsRising members and action takers like you, many of your priorities and demands are included in the package including: a HEROES’ fund of $200 billion for essential workers who are risking their lives in the midst of the pandemic; a stronger Payroll Protection Program (PPP) which will extend the urgently needed PPP loan program as well as help ensure communities of color receive the support they need and quickly; an increase in funding for testing and treatment of the virus; and, also importantly, an extension of Paid Family Leave and Unemployment benefits.[1]
The HEROES Act is just a start. Congress must also turn its attention to creating more pathways and funding to reduce incarceration, which is critical to public health; and to the emerging crisis in child care, which has become a national emergency with centers closing every day and many not expected to be able to reopen so that parents can go to work without substantial public investments.
MomsRising has joined forces with the National Women’s Law Center, Black Women’s Roundtable, Planned Parenthood, UltraViolet, NARAL, Women’s March and 70 women’s organizations from around the country to demand more -- much more -- for women and our list of demands remains the same:
Now that the U.S. House has passed the HEROES Act, the U.S.Senate must do everything in their power to make sure this Act passes quickly too. Women, our sisters, our people cannot wait any longer for protection from the devastations of the COVID-19 crisis. We need relief, funding, and support NOW.
*After you sign on, please take a moment to share the action link on Facebook or Twitter -- or even to forward this email to friends. The more of us who take action, the faster we’ll make changes together.
#WeDemandMore
Thank you,
Diarra, Elyssa, Ruth, Monifa, Kristin and the entire MomsRising.org team
P.S. Mark your calendar now to join us this Tuesday, May 19, for a national day of action. We will keep your U.S. Senators’ phones ringing all day long, with demands to give women the COVID-19 relief they deserve.
P.P.S. MomsRising and dozens of our We Demand More Coalition partners are working together to fight for women and families. Has your family and community been impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic? Tell us your COVID-19 story. Personal experiences are powerful and can make a HUGE difference in helping elected leaders understand why taking critical steps—like passing paid sick days and ensuring COVID-19 testing is widely available—are essential to the health and well-being of our communities.
[1] The Heroes Act One Pager - House Appropriations
________________________
Should I pay for rent or food? If I had an unwanted pregnancy right now, what could I do? Can I afford to take a sick day from work? Should I risk getting sick to go out and vote?
This is where we’re at in the COVID-19 crisis, Friend. The richest country on the planet is forcing its families to make impossible, even deadly, decisions. Women are shouldering the brunt of it—especially women of color. We’re the majority of those working on the front lines to keep people alive and fed. We’re caring for our kids. We’re most likely to lose our jobs because of this crisis.
Sign on NOW to our list of demands for women. Congress has provided only a small fraction of the relief urgently needed for the courageous women workers and caretakers on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis. Shocking new data has emerged that show Black and Latinx people are dying at rates markedly higher than white Americans.[1]
Congress cannot continue to let women and families struggle while giving bailouts to corporations. They’re letting anti-abortion politicians exploit this crisis to attack our rights. They’re standing by as voters risk their lives to cast their ballots. The next COVID-19 relief package MUST right these wrongs.
Make no mistake, it’s women who bear the burden of this crisis. It’s the bus driver working a 15-hour shift for the riders who rely on her; the young mother wondering how she’ll feed her daughter after being laid off; the nurse who shows up every day to save lives while risking her own.
While lawmakers are busy relieving corporations and big banks, who will take care of those that take care of us? We will.
When more people like you take action, the louder our voices become.
Thank you,
Diarra, Elyssa, Ruth, Monifa, Kristin and the entire MomsRising.org team
P.S. MomsRising and dozens of our We Demand More Coalition partners are working together to fight for women and families. Has your family and community been impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic? Tell us your COVID-19 story. Personal experiences are powerful and can make a HUGE difference in helping elected leaders understand why taking critical steps—like passing paid sick days and ensuring COVID-19 testing is widely available—are essential to the health and well-being of our communities.
P.P.S. Are you looking for more information on how to access the COVID-19 support programs Congress has already passed (like unemployment insurance, paid family leave and paid sick days, and nutrition assistance)? We’ve got you covered! Check out this video and resources from a webinar we held last week.
[1] ‘A Terrible Price’: The Deadly Racial Disparities of COVID 19 in America
Register to vote! / ¡Regístrese para votar!
Join our Spanish language community, MamásConPoder.org
What should MomsRising tackle next? Tell us!
You can unsubscribe from this mailing list at any time.