Dear Friend,

President Biden recently released his $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan to save the American economy from the ongoing public health and unemployment crisis resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the provisions of this plan include:

• $1400 direct payments to individuals and families to offset financial hardships caused by the crisis;
• Federal minimum wage increase to $15 an hour;
• Support to state and local governments to keep frontline workers employed, distribute the vaccine, increase testing, and safely reopen schools;
• Expanded emergency paid leave and extended emergency unemployment benefits;
• Targeted paycheck protection program funding to support Black businesses and non-profits;
• Extension on the eviction and foreclosure moratorium, rental assistance, and aid for households unable to pay utilities;
• Homebuyer assistance/ rescue, housing counseling, fair housing enforcement services…and much more.

While this plan is a promising start, some Republican members of Congress are calling for a much smaller ($600 billion) package to be passed. This would leave out vital resources that would benefit low and moderate income Black Americans such as expansions of the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit, aid to state and local governments, health coverage provisions, paid leave, rental assistance, and jobless aid.

Our communities need and deserve more than a watered down version of the President’s plan! Black American families are facing real and immediate hardships such as evictions, foreclosures, layoffs, and loss of medical coverage at a higher rate than other group in this country. The shameful history and continuance of discriminatory and exclusionary policies in housing, employment, health care, and more will make the road to recovery longer and much harder for Black American families and small businesses! The next COVID-19 relief bill should include the provisions outlined in the President’s American Rescue Plan as it is a good start to address the unique needs of our community and the historic racial inequity brought to light by the current pandemic.

Our members of Congress need to hear from us again! Your action moved Congress to pass the CARES act, distributing much needed direct payments to low and moderate income Black Americans. But the pandemic is far from over…Congress must introduce and pass STRONG and ROBUST legislation that will prioritize the needs of Black American families and small businesses!

Take action: It only takes 2 minutes! Use this LINK to contact your members of Congress TODAY and let them know that we demand quick action on a COVID-19 relief bill that prioritizes Black American families and businesses hardest hit by this public health and economic crisis!