As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, hundreds of thousands of Alabamians are facing hunger, homelessness and hardship. Please email U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby right now and ask him to support a bipartisan COVID-19 relief package before the Senate breaks for the holidays!

The COVID-19 relief plan unveiled this week by Sens. Cassidy, Collins, Murkowski, Romney and their Democratic colleagues is a solid foundation for a relief deal in the final days of this congressional session. It includes extended unemployment insurance benefits, additional food and child care assistance, student loan relief, and housing assistance for people at risk of eviction.

The framework doesn’t include an eviction moratorium or more aid to help states and localities avoid layoffs and deep service cuts. But it would still be a meaningful down payment on a more comprehensive relief package next year.

Congress only has a few days to pass legislation to fund the government and avoid a shutdown. COVID-19 relief can and should be part of that bill to ease the suffering here in Alabama and across the country. Congress may vote on this plan early next week, so it’s important to make your voice heard right now.