FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 27, 2020
CONTACT: Will Pregman, [email protected], 702.752.0656
Senate Republicans’ COVID-19 Relief Proposal Falls Short for Families, Workers and State and Local Budgets
LAS VEGAS – Following the release of Senate Republicans’ COVID-19 relief package, termed the HEALS Act, in Congress, Annette Magnus, Executive Director of Battle Born Progress, released the following statement:
“As COVID infections surge and 739 Nevadans have died from the disease and 34 percent of the labor force have filed for unemployment, thousands need help to get through this tough time and take care of their families. Unfortunately, Republicans in the Senate have proposed a package that does little to address the surge in unemployment, the loss of healthcare coverage, and the state and local budget shortfalls, which has already done lasting damage to our already underfunded education and healthcare systems in Nevada.
This proposal not only doesn’t address harms that so many Nevadans have already suffered, the narrow, inadequate relief package leaves out workers and small businesses which will prolong recovery. In fact, this plan makes cuts to unemployment benefits seen in the previous package and provides $0 in additional funds for state and local governments. Without more robust investment in state and local governments, in unemployment and worker protections, and in Medicaid that millions depend on for healthcare and jobs, COVID-19 is going to continue wreaking havoc on our state.
It also introduces the idea to give businesses a bailout by giving them immunity from liability to shield them from lawsuits over their ability to keep their employees safe in the workplace. We are seeing the same extreme right-wing ALEC proposal here in Nevada that would pose serious harm to Nevada workers. A proposal like this which is pushed by the likes of Senator Mitch McConnell, Republicans in the U.S. Senate, and Nevada elected officials like Assemblyman Ira Hansen is nothing that our elected officials in the state of Nevada, at any level, should support. We are opposed to this provision at both the federal and state levels and will hold any and all elected officials that fail our workers, accountable.
We’re counting on Nevada’s champions in the Senate, Senators Catherine Cortez-Masto, and Jacky Rosen to advocate forcefully with Senate leadership and demand a better deal for Nevadans. It’s not fair that billionaires are getting richer in this pandemic while the rest of us are getting sicker and poorer. Congress can and must do better if we are going to beat COVID 19.”
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