Friend --
It’s been six months since the passage of the CARES Act. But thanks to the failures of one of its core components, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), many individuals and small businesses (especially in communities of color) were unable to access a single dollar of aid. And now, to make things even worse, President Donald Trump has tweeted his intention to HALT all negotiations in Congress on a new relief package until after the election.
This is completely unacceptable. Struggling Americans and small businesses need help NOW. Add your name to join us in denouncing Trump’s actions -- and to demand that Congress take immediate action on a new COVID-19 relief package that will help those who need it!
As Accountable.US illustrated in their report, this is why we need a new COVID-19 relief package:
| ➔ | The Trump administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was poorly designed and implemented: The program benefited the wealthy and corporations, including major chain restaurants like Potbelly and Ruth’s Chris Steak House, instead of the small businesses it was supposed to help. | |
| ➔ | People at the top -- NOT everyday Americans and small businesses -- received aid: At least $1.5 billion in PPP funds went to more than 900 publicly-traded firms -- including shell companies and foreign-owned corporations. Meanwhile, many legitimate small businesses and their employees received minimal or no aid. | |
| ➔ | Our most vulnerable businesses and communities did not get the help they need: The data shows that businesses owned by Black women received little financial help, and aid for businesses in Black communities was disproportionately less than for businesses in white communities -- despite 40 percent of Black-owned businesses nationwide closing during initial COVID lockdowns. | |
| ➔ | The PPP had a fraud and transparency problem: The PPP program lacked transparency and has been rife with fraud -- begging the question: “Where did these funds actually go?” (See the tracker from Accountable.US here). |
And this administration and Congress have let core benefits of the CARES Act expire, including the additional $600-a-month unemployment benefit millions of Americans were counting on to get through this crisis. With the national unemployment rate still high and millions of Americans still unemployed -- and facing the threat of eviction from their homes -- a new relief package is urgently needed, now more than ever.
Friend, what President Trump tweeted is irresponsible and unconscionable -- and could make a bad situation even worse. That’s why he needs to hear from us. Will you add your name to our petition denouncing Trump’s actions and calling for immediate additional COVID-19 relief for the people and small businesses in need of it?
Thank you and, please, take care and stay safe!
-- Your friends at Allied Progress
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