COVID-19, Economic Opportunity, Health and Education, Policy Updates
Federal pandemic relief is ending soon, the Senate must act now!
by WREN Staff on Nov 20, 2020
Millions of people across the country are struggling to get by, including kids who aren’t getting enough to eat because their parents don’t have enough money for groceries and families that are behind on rent and could lose their homes.
Programs intended to aid Americans struggling financially due to the ongoing coronavirus will expire at the end of the year unless Congress reaches agreement on a new relief bill.
Expiration dates of crucial relief include:
- December 26- Expanded unemployment benefits end
- December 31- Student Loan payment suspension ends
- December 31- Paid family leave ends
- January 1- Eviction protection ends
When unemployment benefits expire, 13.5 million Americans, will be left to fend for themselves without knowing how they’re going to meet basic needs. In addition to unemployment benefits, a nationwide eviction moratorium and student loan forbearance will expire at the end of the year putting impossible financial strain on families. State and local jurisdictions will stop receiving funds from the federal government and emergency paid sick leave and family medical leave, which has been proven to reduce the spread of COVID, will also halt.
While more than 11 million Americans have contracted COVID-19 and nearly 150,000 have died from the disease, the pandemic only appears to be worsening heading into Winter. Without new relief, millions more of Americans could be jobless and unable to provide for themselves.
We know what’s needed:
- Extending the paid leave provisions in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and we must ensure permanent paid leave for all working people so we’re never unprepared for a crisis again.
- Increases in SNAP benefits to help families put food on the table
- Emergency rental assistance to help for families stay in their homes
- Adequate unemployment insurance benefits for people who have lost their jobs
- Child care assistance so that parents have the safe, affordable child care they need to be able to return to work when it’s safe to do so
- More aid to state and local governments to prevent more job layoffs and cuts in critical services
Your vote is only one part of your voice in our democracy—now we must hold our officials accountable. Email your Senator today to urge them to act—> https://p2a.co/eQzf0Kr
Already completed the email to your Senators? Here are other ways you can take action today!
- Call your Senator and tell them what you outlined in the action email. U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121
- Write an op-ed, letter to the editor, or tweet at your members of Congress
- Share your COVID experience with WREN; go to https://www.scwren.org/story/ to get started!
Read more about the impact COVID 19 pandemic is having and efforts to combat the crisis:
- COVID-19 Emergency Sick Leave Has Helped Flatten The Curve In The United States
- 12 Million Workers Facing Jobless Benefit Cliff on December 26
- Eviction moratorium key weapon in pandemic fight, physicians say
- WREN recently join over 235 Orgs Call on President-Elect Biden to Cancel Federal Student Debt on Day One using Executive Action