Only Congress can provide the amount of relief needed to get through this crisis. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌
 

Time is running out for Congress to act on Covid relief 

Hi friend,

The time is now for Congress to pass a robust relief package that will help Iowans get through this crisis. You've most likely been hearing this message from us all summer — and we certainly had hoped Congress would reach a bipartisan deal, one that puts people first, before now.

But we're down to the wire after the U.S. Senate yesterday voted down even an inadequate Covid-19 relief bill — a “skinny” package that utterly failed to meet the challenge of the unprecedented crisis we face. 

The effects of the pandemic and the deepest economic downturn since the Great Depression are not over by a mile. Thousands of Iowans are still out of work and need help paying rent and putting food on the table. Our child care industry is struggling, and our state and local governments face budget shortfalls that are sure to bring teacher layoffs and cuts to health care and other services that keep our communities going.

Black, Latinx and immigrant families — disproportionately left out of relief programs to date — have been particularly hard hit as the crisis has exacerbated long-standing inequities in health care, education and housing stemming largely from structural racism.

Sen. Grassley and Sen. Ernst voted for yesterday's failed bill, even though it lacked important measures both senators have voiced support for — like boosts to child care and food assistance.

Write Senator Ernst and Senator Grassley right now to ask them to demand the President and GOP leaders return to bipartisan negotiations on relief package that meets this unprecedented need. 

 
 

The Senate vote cannot be the end of the story. Failure to pass a strong relief package is not an option. We've got three weeks before Congress recesses until after the election — let's make them count! 

Thanks for all you do,

Anne Discher
Executive Director, Common Good Iowa

 

ICYMI: We just dropped our latest podcast episode, in which some of our partners, my colleagues and I dig deeper into how the Senate bill would've failed Iowans, if it had passed — and what we need Congress to include in a robust relief package. Give it a listen here. 

Episode highlight: "Iowans really need Senator Ernst and Senator Grassley to work with Senate leadership, to work with the Administration — they are positioned to pressure both — to pass a strong relief package, one that matches the scale and scope of the need."

 

Common Good Iowa
505 5th Ave., Ste. 404
Des Moines, IA 50309

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