Sign our petition saying NO to Mitch McConnell! We need a COVID-relief bill that lifts up families and our economy, not wealthy corporations! Take Action

Dear Friend,

Once again Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is low-balling American families, failing to recognize the scope and impact of this pandemic, and not giving workers or our economy what we really need.

We need Congress to pass a strong, bold, comprehensive COVID-relief package immediately so struggling families and our economy can begin to recover from this pandemic.

We don’t need what Mitch is offering up: more tax cuts for already wealthy corporations!

***SIGN OUR PETITION NOW telling Congress to reject Mitch McConnell’s COVID-relief plan and replace it with a families and workers-first comprehensive plan that benefits those in need and our economy!

Here’s what’s going on: Senate Majority Leader McConnell and his cronies in the White House just released their plan for the next COVID-relief bill. [1] And no surprise here—it’s a corporations first, families and our economy last approach to relief. With the clock ticking on key provisions of unemployment insurance benefits ending and the federal moratorium on evictions expiring at the end of the month, Congress is scrambling to pass their next (and likely last until December) COVID-relief package. [2,3]

And what is Mitch McConnell proposing? A whole bunch of things we don’t need, while ignoring what we do need, which is extending unemployment benefits, healthcare access, paid leave and sick days, shoring up the childcare and K-12 systems, ensuring access to food and housing supports for families in need, and more, But instead, while people are struggling to put food on the table and get healthcare, McConnell is proposing things like these:

• $10 billion to private schools with no strings attached, when his proposal for public K-12 schools is contingent on the schools physically reopening. The Republicans are extorting school districts before it is safe to reopen.
• A major cut to unemployment benefits, including greatly reducing the $600/week boost in benefits that made most unemployed workers’ paychecks whole.
• Allowing business execs to write off 100% of their meals. Yes, you read that correctly. Instead of offering real aid to struggling restaurant workers and the mom and pop restaurants around the country, Mitch McConnell wants to make sure business execs can eat for free!
• Shields businesses, non-profits, schools, medical providers, and the medical profession from accountability in the courts when they fail to take reasonable precautions related to the coronavirus that sickens workers, consumers, or patients, including if they die.

What do our families and economy really need?

• At least $50 billion to save our child care infrastructure and at least $175 billion in federal aid to K-12 schools to stabilize education funding, help close the digital divide, and guarantee the safety of educators, support staff and students.
• Permanent paid family and medical leave and earned sick days for all workers.
• Extending unemployment insurance, including continuing the $600 boost past July 31^st, and provide a second round of direct payments to families, including immigrant families.
• A boost in SNAP (food stamps) benefits and strengthening other nutrition programs for struggling families.
• Redirecting criminal justice and police force funding that is not specifically for COVID-19 health and safety precautions or supporting decarceration to other programs.
• Decarcerate as many people as safely possible from jails, prisons, and detention centers, especially children, the elderly, pregnant people, and people with health vulnerabilities.
• No-cost testing, treatment, and vaccinations for all, including immigrant communities and ensures that testing and treatment for COVID-19 is covered under emergency Medicaid.
• Expands the EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit) and the Child Tax Credit to support struggling families and repeals the appalling $135 billion Millionaires Tax Giveaway that the GOP snuck into the CARES Act.
• $3.6 billion in election assistance funding for states to ensure that every state has the resources they need to expand vote-by-mail, early voting, and online voter registration, as well as ensure the safety of poll workers.

***We need YOU to take action NOW because the clock is ticking! Tell your members of Congress to reject Mitch McConnell’s and the White House’s weak COVID-relief plan and replace it with a package that our families and economy really need.

It’s been over three months since Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the House of Representatives passed the HEROES Act, which is a very good place for the U.S. Senate to start in their negotiations. The HEROES Act would be an excellent start in addressing the struggles and pains many families are facing during this pandemic—pains that must be addressed immediately to lift both families and our economy. It also would provide our states, localities, municipalities, and territories with much needed support as they begin to see massive budgetary restrictions caused by the pandemic and economic downturn, and our health care system with the funding and resources it needs more than five months into this crisis. Building upon the HEROES Act, we need the final package to go even further, including more robust funding for childcare, K-12 education, aid for incarcerated individuals, including immigrant families in ICE detention centers.

The only reason we have been able to get some many programs that help our families is because YOU keep speaking out and making your voice heard. Thank you! Now we need you to do it again. Sign our petition telling Congress to reject Mitch McConnell’s weak plan and then forward this email to your friends and family and post our action link on Facebook so everyone you know can take action as well.

Thank you for ALL you do!

-Elyssa, Nina, Monifa, Felicia, Ruth, Hanna, Donna, Kristin, and the entire MomsRising/MamasConPoder Team

P.S. The $600/week boost in unemployment benefits will officially expire this Friday leaving millions of unemployed workers with either significantly reduced benefits or no benefits at all. Please take a minute to call your Senators and demand that they expand the $600/week boost in unemployment benefits. Text “ExtendUI” to 747464 and we’ll connect you directly with your Senator’s office.

[1] “Senate GOP unveils coronavirus relief plan with 70% wage replacement in unemployment insurance.” CNBC, July 27, 2020

[2] “Your Unemployment Benefits Will End Sooner Than Expected.” Forbes, July 1, 2020.

[3] “It ‘Looks Very Scary For Renters’ As Federal Eviction Relief Expiration Nears.” NPR, July 21, 2020.

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