John,

With just two weeks until Election Day, Speaker Nancy Pelosi has drawn a line in the sand.

It’s time for Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump to put forward a real COVID-19 relief package―one that reflects the priorities and investments of the House's $2.2 trillion HEROES Act passed earlier this month, which was already slashed from the $3.3 trillion package passed in mid-May.[1] McConnell’s so-called skinny package that puts the interests of corporations and the wealthy ahead of the dire needs of working families is unacceptable.

Sadly, Mitch McConnell is preparing to hold a vote tomorrow that is nothing more than a political ploy to give cover to vulnerable Republican senators up for reelection. McConnell’s bill is basically the same one the Senate failed to pass last month. It is woefully inadequate―providing about $500 billion when working families, communities, schools and others need the kind of support in the HEROES Act.

Sign the petition to the U.S. Senate and demand they pass a bill that includes critical protections for working people, and vulnerable families and communities, based on the priorities of the House-passed HEROES Act.

With most pandemic relief provisions having expired, we’re starting to see a rise in pandemic-poverty as people continue to lose their jobs and as enhanced unemployment benefits dry up. Eight million people in America have fallen into poverty in recent months as federal pandemic aid ended.[2]

Unlike the HEROES Act, the Senate GOP bill fails to:[3]

• Renew the $1,200 payment to each taxpayer (up to $75,000 in income) and $500 to children in direct payments to cushion the economic blow of the coronavirus crisis

• Renew the additional full weekly $600 federal unemployment payments through next January

• Provide nearly $500 billion to ensure that state and local frontline public services can continue to be delivered in our communities

• Significantly increase food aid and housing assistance to vulnerable people and families

McConnell’s bill also fails to repeal the Millionaires Giveaway―a tax cut averaging $1.6 million to each of 43,000 millionaires that Senate Republicans snuck into the CARES Act, the first COVID-19 aid package, passed in March.[4] The House-passed HEROES Act repeals this outrageous tax break!

At a time when America’s billionaires have seen their wealth skyrocket by $931 billion, or nearly one-third, in the midst of the pandemic, and millions of families struggle to make ends meet, we need a fair share tax system and a pandemic response that puts working people and the most vulnerable first.[5]

Sign the petition today and demand the U.S. Senate pass a pandemic response that meets the urgency of the moment.

Senate Republicans’ anemic bill fails to meet the needs of millions who are suffering from reduced wages and unemployment, and when states and local governments desperately need help to maintain basic services in their communities.

We cannot allow Mitch McConnell and the GOP Senate to ignore the economic suffering of millions of people at this urgent time of need.

Thank you,

Frank Clemente
Executive Director
Americans for Tax Fairness Action Fund

[1] “House Democrats pass $2.2 trillion stimulus bill over GOP opposition; bipartisan talks continue,” Washington Post, Oct. 1, 2020

[2] “8 Million Have Slipped Into Poverty Since May as Federal Aid Has Dried Up,”New York Times, Oct. 15, 2020

[3] “Comparison of the Heroes Act, Heroes Act 2.0, and Senate Republican Skinny Bill,” Progressive Caucus Action Fund, Sept. 30, 2020

[4] “HEROES Act raises $250 billion by repealing huge tax tax cut for the rich,” Americans for Tax Fairness, May 15, 2020

[5] “Since Pandemic Began U.S. Billionaires’ Net Worths Jump $931 Billion, or Nearly One-Third, as Working Families Suffer,” Americans for Tax Fairness, Oct. 20, 2020