Press Release: Poder Latinx Urges Senate to Pass Families First Coronavirus Response Act
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, March 16, 2020
CONTACT:
SUSANA FLORES (915) 525 2434 susana@communicationsshop.us
FERNANDA DURAND (443) 396 3317 fernanda@communicationsshop.us
Poder Latinx Urges Senate to Pass Families First Coronavirus Response Act
WASHINGTON – At a time when the measures to slow down the Coronavirus have nearly paralyzed the country, Poder Latinx urges U.S. Senators and President Donald Trump to swiftly pass an emergency aid package that will put the needs and well-being of working families first during this most difficult time.
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act guarantees 10 paid sick days and 12 weeks paid leave for many of the workers who are and will be impacted by the Covid-19 virus. The bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives last week under the leadership of Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
“This bill is looking out for the folks that live paycheck-to-paycheck, the families that try to live on several minimum wage jobs, and those in the service industry who will be most impacted by the economic slowdown,” said Yadira Sanchez, Co-Executive Director at Poder Latinx. “We applaud the work of Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Rosa DeLauro for their work to advance the needs of working families and encourage them to keep pushing for other measures that will save many families from ruin.”
As a result of compromises with the White House, many of the most significant measures were left out of the bill. The safety and health of ALL, regardless of immigration status, must be a priority in coronavirus response. The current legislation lacks an inclusive definition of family for caregiving purposes, which could affect seniors and people with disabilities, among others. In addition, small businesses that operate on shoe-string budgets need immediate cash help, not a tax credit, to stay afloat. Other provisions from the original bill, leave hospital workers unprotected. Some OSHA protections for frontline health have been removed.
Poder Latinx recognizes that this bill is a good first step and supports its passage but will continue advocating to ensure everyone is protected during the Coronavirus crisis
Among the next set of issues that need to be addressed:
The needs of at least 6.5 million workers who might not be covered under the employer threshold rules in the bill
The needs of health care workers to be protected
Protection for those with disabilities
The needs of small businesses that will not be able to wait for a quarterly tax credit to survive
“This crisis has demonstrated that we lack a social safety net that will help out families in a time of crisis and a robust health care system that can organize and handle these health emergencies. That’s why we need paid family and medical leave in this country,” said Esteban Garces, Co-Executive Director at Poder Latinx.
Poder Latinx encourages everyone to contact their senators and urge them to vote YES on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. Everyone can do so by texting ‘FamiliesFirst’ to 52886.
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Poder Latinx, our mission is to build a political wave of voters where the Latinx community, immigrants, and people of color play a key role in the transformation of the country and become decision-makers in our democracy. Through innovative partnerships, issue-based organizing and leadership development, Poder Latinx is rapidly expanding the U.S electorate with new and low propensity Latinx voters. In its first six months, Poder Latinx registered 30,000 voters, building a foundation poised to create change starting with the Presidential elections in 2020.