our families cannot wait - tell the senate to pass covid relief now!

On August 6, a coalition of social justice organizations, including Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice, sent a letter to the Wisconsin Congressional Delegation outlining priorities that must be included in the next COVID-19 relief package, currently being debated in the Senate. 
 
Key priorities identified in the letter include:

• Ensuring universal access to free testing, treatment, and preventive vaccines for COVID-19 regardless of immigration status, income, or any other eligibility criteria,
• Funding for states, local governments, and school districts to cover lost revenue and continue essential services,
• Additional and recurrent economic stimulus payments for individuals, regardless of immigration or family status, until the economy recovers,
• Extend the supplemental $600 per week in unemployment insurance through at least the end of the year for all workers,
• Increasing and extending the supplemental federal paid leave included in the CARES Act, as many parents face the prospect of limited in-person schooling, and workers face additional challenges with caring for a loved one, or battling an illness themselves,
• Additional funds for the homeless and those experiencing housing insecurity,
• Funding for workers who provide home health care for the elderly and disabled and dedicated funding for programs to alleviate widespread social isolation and loneliness among older adults.
• Ensure Wisconsinites have access to healthy food by increasing the SNAP maximum benefit by 15%
• Include the Pandemic TANF Assistance Act (S. 3672). This critically important funding would provide flexible emergency assistance to help low-income families cover groceries, the rent, and utility costs. It would enable states to provide emergency cash assistance to families and individuals that have been left out of other relief measures like unemployment insurance (UI), including individuals returning from jail or prison, survivors of domestic violence, immigrants, and young people from low-income neighborhoods who are just entering the labor market.

Please write to Senators Baldwin and Johnson and amplify the message in this letter. Urge the Senators to pass a comprehensive package immediately that includes these vital needs.  Millions of Americans have already been waiting too long!