We have to wait until January 20th for Joe Biden to be inaugurated as the 46th President of the United States, but COVID relief can’t wait that long. Nearly every state in the country is experiencing sustained increases in COVID-19 cases, and thousands of lives are lost each week. 16 million unemployed workers will lose benefits by the end of the year. More than 1 in 4 adults with children are behind on rent, and the federal moratorium on evictions is set to expire on December 31st. The situation is dire and Congress must act without delay.
Fortunately, we know what a meaningful COVID relief bill would look like. It would provide money to state and local governments to ensure they can properly run school districts, testing sites, and other public services through the winter. It would extend the programs set to expire – like unemployment insurance and paid leave – that support folks who have lost their jobs or are facing challenges affording rent, utilities, or feeding and caring for their families. It would put money in people’s pockets. And it would include necessary public health measures like expanded testing and tracing capacity, workplace safety measures, and free and equitable distribution of vaccines and treatments.
Meaningful relief does not include Mitch McConnell’s giveaways to big corporations, especially immunity for corporations that knowingly violate public health guidelines and expose their employees to the virus. Fortunately, Democrats have so far treated this as a poison pill, and it needs to stay that way. Make no mistake, McConnell would prefer to fill a relief bill with goodies for his mega donors and corporate allies, and we can’t allow that to happen.
The virus is surging while aid is expiring for millions of people, and Congress needs to pass relief as soon as possible. That’s why we need you to call your Senators and Representatives to demand they pass a COVID relief bill before the end of the year session without McConnell’s poison pill provisions. We need to get the pandemic under control and support people being impacted by the economic crisis. The pandemic isn’t waiting, and neither should Congress. Relief can’t wait.
Example call scripts and contact information for our members of Congress are below.
And Davis residents- mark your calendar and register for a Community Conversation on Policing and Public Safety December 14th at 7pm.
This conversation is a chance for community members to explore the recent recommendations presented by the City’s Public Health and Safety Joint Subcommittee, and to explore the way forward together.
Community Conversations: Policing and Public Safety- Learn about and discuss the 9 recommendations about re-envisioning public safety being considered by the Davis City Council. Dec. 14, 7pm.
Register for the Zoom link: tiny.cc/publicsafetydavisdec14
Brought to you by: Yolo People Power, Indivisible Yolo, and ACLU Yolo County Chapter
Tell Rep. Garamendi: Eliminate PayGo, Budget Control Act and the Motion to Recommit rule, strengthen oversight powers
- Sen. Feinstein: 415-393-0707 (SF) 202-224-3841 (D.C) (email)
- Sen. Harris: 916-448-2787 (Sacramento) 202-224-3553 (D.C.) (email)
- Rep. Garamendi (530) 753-5301 (Davis) (202)-225-1880 (D.C.) (email)
- (if Rep. Matsui is your representative, the same example script applies)
Sample Call Script:
Hello, my name is [YOUR NAME] and I am a constituent from [CITY, zip code].
I’m calling on [Senator Feinstein/Senator Harris/ Representative Garamendi] to immediately pass a COVID relief bill before the end of the year.
Millions of people are facing financial struggles as the pandemic is getting worse. The only way to turn this around is to get the pandemic under control and provide financial assistance to the people who need it. Congress needs to:
- Extend expiring programs like enhanced unemployment insurance and paid leave,
- Extend the current eviction and foreclosure moratoriums,
- Support state and local governments,
- Establish a workplace safety standard,
- Create a plan for free and equitable vaccine distribution;
- Do NOT pass a bill that gives corporations a liability shield.
We do NOT need McConnell’s poison pill corporate giveaway that would allow corporations to put their employees in harms’ way with no accountability.
Will [Senator Feinstein/Senator Harris/ Representative Garamendi] fight to pass a meaningful COVID relief bill without McConnell’s poison pills before the end of the year? The pandemic isn’t waiting, and I won’t wait either.
Copyright © 2020 IndivisibleYOLO, All rights reserved.
