Federal relief needed now!

By Clare S. Richie, public policy specialist

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to threaten the health, housing, education, economic stability and civic engagement of Georgians with a disproportionate impact on Black and brown communities, undocumented immigrants and households with low incomes – we call on Congress to work together on a federal stimulus package to provide extended relief.

Please consider reaching out to Georgia’s Congressional members to act quickly to support our communities with legislation that includes key provisions like:

Health

• Increasing the federal Medicaid matching rate to relieve state budgets as more workers lose employer-based health benefits 
• Extending school food waivers and flexibility while school is virtual, such as allowing Child and Adult Care Food Program sites to serve meals to kids enrolled in school
• Increasing SNAP benefits (aka food stamps) by 15 percent
• Increasing Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration funding to help respond to the nation’s growing behavioral health needs caused by the pandemic

Housing

• Extending the federal moratorium on mortgage foreclosures and evictions for federally-backed properties. More than 1.5 million Georgia adults missed last month’s rent or mortgage payment, or have little to no confidence they will be able to pay next month’s rent or mortgage, according to Census data
• Providing $100 billion in emergency rental assistance for those facing homelessness

Education

• Increasing funding for school counselors, mental health professionals and/or wrap-around services in schools
• Closing the digital divide by increasing funding for the FCC E-RATE program so that children and families can adapt to virtual education and work
• Increasing funding for programs serving children in foster care and those who are homeless, learning English as a second language, have IEPs, and/or have special needs
• Extending student loan forbearance past October 2020

Economic Stability

• Extending pandemic unemployment insurance benefits, including the $600/week additional compensation and the flexibility to extend the benefits to gig workers and those who are self-employed. A recent study from Yale University found that those who received larger unemployment insurance expansions returned to work more quickly
• Expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit for workers not raising children at home and making the Child Tax Credit fully refundable to help low-wage workers keep of more what they earn to pay for their basic needs
• Supplementing the Child Care Development Block Grant with $50 billion to make sure that child care is available as people return to work  
• Enacting legislation that ensures municipal broadband is in place so that everyone has access to healthcare, education, economic growth and expansion, and other quality of life essentials

Civic Engagement

• For 2020 Census, adding provisions to:
  • Require the bureau to continue non-response follow-up and self-response through October 31
  • Allocate additional funding to boost communications, provide in-language assistance, increase pay rates as needed, hire more enumerators, provide more PPE, etc.
  • Push back the statutory reporting deadlines for apportionment and redistricting data by 4 months each, as originally requested
• Funding state and local governments to make their election systems safe for voters and poll workers under pandemic conditions.

The next stimulus package must also include federal aid to states. Georgia’s current state budget suffered deep cuts, including nearly $1 billion from our education funding formula. States need at least $500 billion in federal aid.

As COVID-19 cases continue to rise, Congress must act now to pass a comprehensive federal relief bill that addresses the needs of states and those hit hardest by the pandemic until the economy recovers. Contact information is below – calling is always best!

Senator David Perdue 202.224.3521, Email Senator Perdue  Senator Kelly Loeffler 202.224.3643, Email Senator Loeffler Rep. Buddy Carter (District 1) 202.225.5831, Email Rep. Carter Rep. Sanford Bishop, Jr. (District 2) 202.225.3631, Email Rep. Bishop Rep. Drew Ferguson, IV (District 3) 202.225.5901, Email Rep. Ferguson Rep. Henry Johnson, Jr. (District 4) 202.225.1605, Email Rep. Johnson Rep. Lucy McBath (District 6) 202.225.4501, Email Rep. McBath Rep. Rob Woodall (District 7) 202.225.4272, Email Rep. Woodall Rep. Austin Scott (District 8) 202.225.6531, Email Rep. Scott Rep. Doug Collins (District 9) 202.225.9893, Email Rep. Collins Rep. Jody Hice (District 10) 202.225.4101, Email Rep. Hice Rep. Barry Loudermilk (District 11) 202.225.2931, Email Rep. Loudermilk Rep. Rick Allen (District 12) 202.225.2823, Email Rep. Allen Rep. David Scott (District 13) 202.225.2939, Email Rep. Scott Rep. Tom Graves (District 14) 202.225.5211, Email Rep. Graves