[1]Justice Democrats

Millions of people are falling behind on paying their bills. Mounting
debt can lead to evictions or shutoffs of vital services like clean
water, gas and electricity, and broadband internet.

But if we pass the Maintaining Access to Essential Services Act, we can
stop utility shutoffs and eliminate household debt for these essential
services. Can you sign on to support this legislation today?

[ [link removed] ]Sign Now »



John,



No one should have to worry about whether they can reliably access
electricity, clean water, or broadband internet.

But across the country, millions of families cannot afford the
skyrocketing prices of these essential services.

Mounting debt for unpaid bills has brought families to the brink of
experiencing homelessness. And people who can’t afford their utility bills
are punished through shutoffs of these vital, life-sustaining services.
Which means they can’t meet their basic needs.

So I introduced the Maintaining Access to Essential Services Act in the
U.S. House. The bill will stop utility shutoffs, require reconnection for
anyone whose essential services have been shut off, and eliminate
household debt for water, electricity, and broadband internet.

[ [link removed] ]Will you sign on now to support my new legislation to ensure that
everyone can access the water, power, and internet that they need to live?

Sign Now »

It’s outrageous that utilities are shutting off people’s access to
life-sustaining services, especially in the midst of this pandemic and
economic crisis.

Even before the pandemic, millions of people across the country were going
without running water—a basic human need and a right—simply because they
couldn’t afford to pay for it. As if this system weren’t cruel enough, I
know families whose children have been taken by Child Protective Services
because they could not afford rising water bills. It’s devastating.

This punitive system disproportionately harms Black, brown, and low-income
people.

To start to address these crises, the Maintaining Access to Essential
Services Act provides nearly $40 billion in low-interest loans to
utilities—and requires the utilities that receive loans to:

* suspend utility shutoffs (water, power, and internet)
* restore disconnected service
* suspend late fees and charges
* stop the sale of household debt to debt collectors
* stop filing adverse reports to credit agencies

The loans will be forgiven when the utilities forgive all outstanding
household debt. That’s how we can eliminate mounting debt for millions of
struggling families, and begin to break the cycle of poverty.

In this time of crisis and beyond, we must ensure that people can remain
in their homes with their water running and their lights on. We can do
this, together.

[ [link removed] ]Sign on now as a grassroots cosponsor of the Maintaining Access to
Essential Services Act! Your support helps guarantee water as a human
right and ensure the continuation of other services essential to our
survival.

Sign Now »

In solidarity,

Rep. Rashida Tlaib

Do not worry if you cannot afford to make a contribution — we understand that
this is a difficult time. If you’re struggling, you can find a food bank
[ [link removed] ]here. We appreciate everything you do to keep our movement strong.

Please stay informed and follow the most up-to-date recommendations from the
[ [link removed] ]Centers for Disease Control and your state public health department.


 




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