Arise legislative recap: May 21, 2020

Alabama legislators ended the regular session this week by enacting education and General Fund budgets for 2021. But as the COVID-19 downturn hammers state tax revenues, we fear lawmakers' optimism surrounding these budgets could be misplaced. Arise's Carol Gundlach explains why the Legislature likely will return for one or more special sessions later this year to revisit the budgets and address other issues.

Cover Alabama Conversations: Alabama Arise's Jim Carnes

The story of Medicaid expansion in Alabama is the story of the people whose lives it would save and transform. In the first episode of our new Cover Alabama Conversations interview series, Arise's Sherrel Wheeler Stewart talks to Arise policy director Jim Carnes about how expansion would help our state fight the COVID-19 pandemic and rebuild in its aftermath.

Pandemic EBT keeps Alabama children fed when school meals aren't an option

"P-EBT is a vital replacement for lost school meals," Arise's Carol Gundlach writes on our blog. "But it is still tied to the school calendar and can’t help families during the long summer ahead." Learn why Congress should build on P-EBT’s success in providing nutrition assistance by extending this program throughout the summer and increasing SNAP benefits for everyone.

Community eligibility ensures future success of Alabama's child nutrition program

Community eligibility "is proving to be a firm foundation for emergency response" during the COVID-19 pandemic, Arise's Celida Soto Garcia writes on our blog. Read more about why every eligible Alabama school should embrace this powerful opportunity to reduce child hunger.

Protection from predatory lenders should be part of Alabama's COVID-19 response

State and federal lawmakers need to enact strong protections for payday and title borrowers "before these harmful loans make the pandemic’s financial devastation even worse," Arise's Dev Wakeley writes on our blog. Rate caps and increased transparency are powerful, proven policy solutions to this problem.

Alabama Political Reporter: Alabama Arises urges federal guidance on return to unsafe working conditions

People shouldn’t have to choose between their lives and their livelihoods. The Alabama Political Reporter writes about Arise's call for the U.S. Department of Labor to act quickly to protect people who are at higher risk from COVID-19 from being forced to return to unsafe working conditions.

How to get help in Alabama during the COVID-19 crisis

As unemployment soars, many Alabamians are deeply worried about basics like food, health care, housing and income. A lot of folks need help getting by but may not know quite where to look. This Arise guide to public assistance programs and other support services is designed to help people meet their basic needs during this pandemic.

Alabama Arise

P.O. Box 1188, Montgomery, Alabama 36101

(334) 832-9060 · [email protected]

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