The “Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act” is Nancy Pelosi’s response to the disastrous proposal from the Senate (“disastrous” because of the slush fund; disastrous because it can’t pass).
- Increases the amount of money being offered to individuals to $1,500, and up to $7,500 for a family of five. The same GOP income thresholds in the GOP bill would apply — $75,000 for individuals and $150,000 for couples, but the benefit would be available to anyone with an individual taxpayer identification number, retirees and unemployed individuals.
- Waives $10,000 in federal student loan payments.
- Dedicate $4 billion in grant funding to help states with upcoming elections and nationally mandates 15 days of early voting and no-excuse absentee vote-by-mail, including mailing a ballot to all registered voters in an emergency.
- Includes a section that would cancel several executive orders and presidential memorandums that Democrats argue have weakened public-sector unions’ ability to engage in collective bargaining.
- Creates new carbon offset guidelines for airlines, with a long-term goal of reducing jet fuel emissions by 50% by 2050.
- Allocates $150 billion to support hospitals, local health centers and government-funded medical programs, with an additional $80 billion in low-interest loans to hospitals.
- Eliminates cost-sharing for coronavirus treatments and vaccines for all patients, including the uninsured.
- Addresses broader health care concerns that Democrats have pushed for months, including increasing subsidies on the individual market and creating new incentives for states to expand Medicaid.
- Provides child care assistance to health care workers and emergency personnel.
- Would temporarily provide $600 per week to unemployed workers affected by the coronavirus. Self-employed workers, Americans whose contracts were canceled, and new entrants to the job market would also be eligible.
- Expands paid sick leave and family medical leave, as well as gives more money to food-safety benefits.
- Provides $500 billion in grants and interest-free loans to small businesses.
- Creates a $200 billion stabilization fund for states and $15 billion for local governments through the Community Development Block Grant program. The legislation also authorizes the Federal Reserve to purchase state and local government bonds.
- Pumps nearly $60 billion into schools and universities, with $50 billion directly provided to states for school funding and nearly $10 billion to higher education institutions.
- Dedicates $20 billion to reimbursing the U.S. Postal Service for lost revenue, and forgives USPS debt.
- Requires companies receiving federal assistance during coronavirus to institute a $15 minimum wage.
Call Congress and support this bill.
You can find the full bill and this summary at Axios.
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