27 Mar Congress Needs to Pass The CARE Act TODAY
The BCTGM supports the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act (H.R. 748).
This legislation includes a number of economic supports America’s workers immediately require including an expansion of the unemployment insurance program, increased funding for schools, hospitals and state and local governments, and relief for the airline industry conditioned on the protection of worker rights.
Given the urgency of the situation, Congress should pass this bill and President Trump should sign it today.
As imperative as it is, the package does not address other critical aspects of the coronavirus crisis that threaten not only the lives of working people but also the integrity of our elections. It fails to provide sufficient resources to front line workers; it fails to provide them with the necessary health and safety protections to keep them from contracting Covid-19; and it fails to include the emergency workplace standard contained in H.R. 6139. And because of Republican objections, the deal is silent on the multiemployer pension crisis.
Though this bill is urgently needed, as the epidemic intensifies, it will not be enough to keep our economy healthy and our people safe. America’s working people, our businesses, and our state and local governments will require more economic support.
After enacting the third Coronavirus response package, Congress must immediately get to work on a fourth package to address our nation’s further critical needs as we continue to struggle to overcome the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.