rich 1.0 Action Network https://actionnetwork.org <link href='https://actionnetwork.org/css/style-embed-v3.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css' /><script src='https://actionnetwork.org/widgets/v6/letter/demand-covid-19-stimulus-package-for-working-people?format=js&source=widget'></script><div id='can-letter-area-demand-covid-19-stimulus-package-for-working-people' style='width: 100%'><!-- this div is the target for our HTML insertion --></div> Center for Coalfield Justice https://actionnetwork.org/groups/center-for-coalfield-justice https://actionnetwork.org//images/generic_facebook.jpg Our nation’s economy has ground to a halt and even the ability to exercise our right to vote has been cast into question because of the measures needed to protect citizens from coronavirus infection. As Congress considers a third stimulus to confront this pandemic, we need to urge them to incorporate these important asks that will center our communities’ most vulnerable and keep our social bonds intact. This is one of the largest packages of funding to stimulate the economy that we have ever seen. Read more below to see exactly what a just stimulus package calls for. Fill out the form to get started ands end a message to Congress. Healthcare Ensure that all COVID-19 related expenses from testing to full treatment are covered by the government. We can achieve this by immediately expanding access to Medicare. Medicare has the ability to absorb tens of thousands of new enrollees and doctors and hospitals are used to billing. In addition we need to expand open enrollment in the ACA. Immediately invest in the procurement of the full supply chain of drugs and medical devices. Immediately triple the investment to the NIH to manufacture medicines and vaccines. The COVID-19 vaccine must be available to everyone for free. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) needs to prioritize and expedite the review of drug applications and inspections to prevent or mitigate a drug shortage. While we need to ensure that we can produce personal protective equipment and medical equipment quickly, we also need to protect our workers and we can not roll back OSHA protections that save the lives of healthcare workers. We need the President to invoke the Defense Production Act to mass produce needed materials, such as test supplies, ventilators, and masks. We need to meet the immediate needs of our healthcare workers and we need a bold plan to rebuild our healthcare infrastructure. Protect Front-line Retail, Grocery and Low Wage Workers While Congress has passed much needed emergency relief for some workers, most of us on the front lines are not covered by the Families First Coronavirus Response. It left out 80% of workers by exempting large private employers like Walmart, Amazon and Aldi, leaving workers safety and protection at the whim of big corporations. Pres. Trump and Republicans have sided with corporate CEOs over and over giving billion dollar tax cuts to Walmart and Amazon who have failed this whole time to prioritize the safety of their employees with adequate, permanent sick and family leave. While corporations should have policies to protect workers in place, the reality is that they don’t. Politicians cannot fail workers at Walmart, Amazon and low wage industries in this time of crisis. We need comprehensive, inclusive universal paid leave for all working people now - not half measures or corporate carve outs. We urge you to include in the third stimulus bill all of the full measures from Sens. Murray and Gillibrand, and Rep. DeLauro PAID Leave Act. Assistance to States and Cities In the 2008 crisis, they bailed out Wall Street. This time, we must make them bail out Main Street. Especially not bailing out the fossil fuel companies. One important way to do it is by requiring the Federal Reserve to support state and local governments through the municipal bond market so they can spend in direct response to the COVID-19 crisis. A proposal from Rep. Maxine Waters to make this happen - called municipal quantitative easing, or Muni QE - is already on the table as Proposal 20 of the House’s comprehensive COVID-19 fiscal and policy package. Housing Without safe and secure housing, our families, neighbors, and members will not be able to follow any recommendations from the CDC or our local governments to slow the spread of COVID 19. We are calling for: A National moratorium on evictions that includes a moratorium on all foreclosures, evictions of private housing, sweeps and criminalization of houseless people, and utility shutoffs, and restore utility service for all households; A National mortgage and rent holiday that should cover public and private properties by passing a law reducing rents and mortgage payments to zero for the duration of the crisis, including any fees or interest payments; A National $200 billion dollar Housing Security Fund that should provide at least $120 billion for rent and mortgage payment assistance for anyone affected by the pandemic; adequate funding for homes and expanded services for people experiencing homelessness; and assistance to families to secure safe housing in this crisis and its aftermath, with payment support to cover applications, first month’s rent, and security deposits; and A National Plan to House the Houseless that includes using vacant and available properties and hotels. Voting Rights and Democracy 2020 Election: Just like our health-care system, and our economy, our election infrastructure will need a massive infusion of resources to deal with the impact of the pandemic. We must be sure that every state, locality, or community has the resources they need to provide a safe and secure election in November. Congress must include provisions in economic stimulus legislation to address the impact of COVID-10 pandemic in 2020 elections including: $3 billion+ of funding allocated in the federal emergency stimulus to go to states and localities to cover critical changes to election infrastructure (see policy below) required to respond to the pandemic and ensure ballot access and participation. A federal policy requirement that all states offer: Universal vote-by-mail -- postage paid ballot sent automatically to every registered voter Online voter registration Same day voter registration Expand early voting to at least 20 days Incorporate provisions of the Native American Voting Rights Act (which would send ballots to designated places); Institute in-person polling place protections Immigrant Communities Ensure that during this public health emergency, testing and treatment of health conditions is provided by Medicaid for all who need it, regardless of their immigration status. Oppose all DHS funds for ICE and CBP and restrict transfer and reprogramming of funds for immigration enforcement. https://actionnetwork.org/letters/demand-covid-19-stimulus-package-for-working-people