“Over the past seven months, since Congress passed the CARES Act, millions of young people have fallen through the cracks of the country’s public health and economic response to the Covid-19 global pandemic. Previous temporary relief measures have mitigated immediate pandemic fallout, but significant gaps and implementation challenges continue to delay aid to American households. Day after day, we knew the consequences of failing to pass a relief package – collapsing state budgets, small-business closures, rising unemployment, and increasing housing and food insecurity.
Today we are encouraged by the 11th-hour bipartisan deal to provide much needed relief to American families. Yet again, however, this fails to meet the urgent moment we face. It is now time to move beyond the limited scope of this relief bill, and focus on what a larger, more comprehensive package can look like in the 117th Congress under new leadership. This bill cannot be the final word on Covid relief. The pain is too great for our most vulnerable young people.
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Direct Cash Assistance: One time $600 per person (adult or child) in cash assistance, including mixed-status families. Adult dependents excluded. Unemployment insurance: Extended enhanced unemployment insurance with a supplemental $300/wk payment through ; Rental assistance: $25 billion for emergency rental assistance, which will apply to both past and future rent payments. There is also an extension of the federal eviction moratorium to January 31 Ends surprise billing: The package includes bipartisan, bicameral legislation that will end surprise billing for emergency and scheduled care. College & University funding: Provides $22.7 billion for higher education institutions. There is $7 billion for broadband expansion and $10 billion for child care assistance. The package also includes the largest expansion of Pell Grant by reinstating Pell grants for incarcerated students and simplifying FAFSA. Increased SNAP Access: Provides $13 billion for nutrition assistance, increases SNAP benefits by 15% for 6 months and ensures college students have access to SNAP. Mental Health: Provides $4.25 billion for SAMHSA, including $125 million for tribes. Provides new mental health parity requirements and expands access to mental health telehealth.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Juan Ramiro Sarmiento (785) 760-6567 | [email protected]