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COVID-19 watch Tracking Hardship - September 11, 2020 |
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The Reckless Abandonment Edition. While President Trump admits to misleading the American public on the health threat posed by COVID-19 – and more than 191,000 Americans are dead partly as a result – there can be no denying that the economic threat our country faces is dire. And yet: still no meaningful action from the Senate. Food scarcity in this country is exploding at an alarming rate. An eviction moratorium is in place, but due to loopholes and bureaucracy, people are still being evicted – and tens of millions more will join them early next year unless Congress provides emergency rental assistance. The $600 weekly federal UI payment has long expired – and the temporary, not-quite-workable $300 that the President authorized by taking disaster relief funds from FEMA soon will run out, even in states that are distributing the relief (almost two-thirds are not). Unemployment is rising again, but without schools and child care centers re-opening, many parents will be unable to work – even if they could find jobs, which many can’t. But instead of offering a serious response, Senate Majority Leader McConnell put a grossly inadequate bill on the floor that predictably and rightfully failed. That leaves the possibility that no relief package will be approved until the new year. This is unacceptable and outrageous. Bipartisan negotiations in Washington, D.C. must begin immediately.
Tell your Senators they must not recklessly abandon their constituents in this time of need.
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45% |
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The percentage of adults in households in which someone has lost income from work since March 13. Tweet this. |
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17 |
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The number of states that have made payments to jobless workers under President Trump’s Lost Wage Assistance (LWA) program. The rest have not yet started (South Dakota won’t provide this aid at all). Texas already has announced its last payment, offering only six weeks of aid. Tweet this. |
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9.2% |
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The unemployment rate for the week ending Sept. 5. That’s up from the August rate of 8.4%. |
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668,000 |
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The total number of educator jobs lost since the pandemic began, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The National Education Association estimates that nearly two million K-12 jobs will be lost over the next three years if Congress does not act. Tweet this. |
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Half or more |
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The number of households in America’s four largest cities – New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston – that report facing serious financial problems, with issues ranging from depleting their savings to serious problems paying rent, according to a new poll. It’s worse for Latinx and Black households. Tweet this. |
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For the full report, click here. Tell the Senate: Vacation is over. It is time to pass a meaningful COVID-19 relief package. Share this on Facebook and Twitter.
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