SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
To donate by check, phone, or other method, see our More Ways to Give page.
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) speaks during an oversight hearing in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill February 8, 2019 in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, voiced her disapproval of House Democrats' newly unveiled coronavirus relief package in a series of tweets late Tuesday, calling the 1,815-page bill insufficient to match the scale of the unprecedented economic and public health crisis that the United States is currently facing.
Jayapal, a Washington Democrat, warned that the HEROES Act would not do nearly enough to stem nationwide layoffs or ensure healthcare coverage for the millions of people who have been thrown off their employer-provided insurance plans.
"I am ready and willing to make this legislation better. We need a full conversation and an open process so we can address this crisis before it gets worse--because if we fail to do so at this moment, it will."
--Rep. Pramila Jayapal
"With more than 33 million people filing for unemployment in seven weeks, workers are looking for certainty about how we end mass unemployment and how they'll get their next paycheck," Jayapal wrote. "This legislation doesn't end mass unemployment and it doesn't get paychecks back into their pockets."
Nor does the bill "ensure affordable healthcare for everyone," said Jayapal, who advocated expanding Medicare to cover the unemployed and uninsured--a proposal that was left out of the package in favor of expensive COBRA subsidies, which critics denounced as a handout to the private insurance industry.
"With 35 million at risk of losing their healthcare and 87 million uninsured or underinsured," Jayapal wrote, "people are looking for certainty about whether they'll be able to see a doctor and receive care--during a pandemic no less."
The Washington Democrat also warned that the bill does not do enough to help small businesses facing imminent collapse. "With millions of businesses not getting relief from [the Paycheck Protection Program], business owners are looking for certainty about how they'll avoid closing permanently w/o jeopardizing the wellbeing of workers," said Jayapal. "This bill doesn't tie funding to the basic public health guidelines required to do just that."
"The historic crisis Americans are facing will not end on its own," Jayapal added. "To end it, these three things--getting people paychecks, ensuring access to healthcare, supporting businesses and their workers--are critical. But this legislation does not yet address them at the scale necessary."
\u201cI am ready and willing to make this legislation better. We need a full conversation and an open process so we can address this crisis before it gets worse\u2014because if we fail to do so at this moment, it will.\u201d— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@Rep. Pramila Jayapal) 1589328309
During a Democratic caucus call Monday evening ahead of the bill's introduction, Jayapal reportedly confronted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) over the exclusion of a paycheck guarantee proposal that would have provided businesses with grants to keep workers employed amid the coronavirus crisis. The proposal was widely praised by progressives and unions leaders and reportedly had broad support among House Democrats.
Jayapal also criticized the way in which the massive bill was assembled--largely behind closed doors and with little input from rank-and-file members, who are currently in their home districts.
In a letter to Pelosi late Tuesday, Jayapal and her fellow Progressive Caucus co-chair Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) demanded that the planned Friday vote on the legislation be pushed back so members can fully examine the mammoth legislation and propose changes.
Politico reported that Congressional Progressive Caucus members have "been advised to say they're 'undecided' when party leaders conduct a whip check."
"Under no circumstances are we ready to vote on the bill this week," Jayapal told Politico.
Dear Common Dreams reader, The U.S. is on a fast track to authoritarianism like nothing I've ever seen. Meanwhile, corporate news outlets are utterly capitulating to Trump, twisting their coverage to avoid drawing his ire while lining up to stuff cash in his pockets. That's why I believe that Common Dreams is doing the best and most consequential reporting that we've ever done. Our small but mighty team is a progressive reporting powerhouse, covering the news every day that the corporate media never will. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. And to ignite change for the common good. Now here's the key piece that I want all our readers to understand: None of this would be possible without your financial support. That's not just some fundraising cliche. It's the absolute and literal truth. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. Will you donate now to help power the nonprofit, independent reporting of Common Dreams? Thank you for being a vital member of our community. Together, we can keep independent journalism alive when it’s needed most. - Craig Brown, Co-founder |
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, voiced her disapproval of House Democrats' newly unveiled coronavirus relief package in a series of tweets late Tuesday, calling the 1,815-page bill insufficient to match the scale of the unprecedented economic and public health crisis that the United States is currently facing.
Jayapal, a Washington Democrat, warned that the HEROES Act would not do nearly enough to stem nationwide layoffs or ensure healthcare coverage for the millions of people who have been thrown off their employer-provided insurance plans.
"I am ready and willing to make this legislation better. We need a full conversation and an open process so we can address this crisis before it gets worse--because if we fail to do so at this moment, it will."
--Rep. Pramila Jayapal
"With more than 33 million people filing for unemployment in seven weeks, workers are looking for certainty about how we end mass unemployment and how they'll get their next paycheck," Jayapal wrote. "This legislation doesn't end mass unemployment and it doesn't get paychecks back into their pockets."
Nor does the bill "ensure affordable healthcare for everyone," said Jayapal, who advocated expanding Medicare to cover the unemployed and uninsured--a proposal that was left out of the package in favor of expensive COBRA subsidies, which critics denounced as a handout to the private insurance industry.
"With 35 million at risk of losing their healthcare and 87 million uninsured or underinsured," Jayapal wrote, "people are looking for certainty about whether they'll be able to see a doctor and receive care--during a pandemic no less."
The Washington Democrat also warned that the bill does not do enough to help small businesses facing imminent collapse. "With millions of businesses not getting relief from [the Paycheck Protection Program], business owners are looking for certainty about how they'll avoid closing permanently w/o jeopardizing the wellbeing of workers," said Jayapal. "This bill doesn't tie funding to the basic public health guidelines required to do just that."
"The historic crisis Americans are facing will not end on its own," Jayapal added. "To end it, these three things--getting people paychecks, ensuring access to healthcare, supporting businesses and their workers--are critical. But this legislation does not yet address them at the scale necessary."
\u201cI am ready and willing to make this legislation better. We need a full conversation and an open process so we can address this crisis before it gets worse\u2014because if we fail to do so at this moment, it will.\u201d— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@Rep. Pramila Jayapal) 1589328309
During a Democratic caucus call Monday evening ahead of the bill's introduction, Jayapal reportedly confronted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) over the exclusion of a paycheck guarantee proposal that would have provided businesses with grants to keep workers employed amid the coronavirus crisis. The proposal was widely praised by progressives and unions leaders and reportedly had broad support among House Democrats.
Jayapal also criticized the way in which the massive bill was assembled--largely behind closed doors and with little input from rank-and-file members, who are currently in their home districts.
In a letter to Pelosi late Tuesday, Jayapal and her fellow Progressive Caucus co-chair Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) demanded that the planned Friday vote on the legislation be pushed back so members can fully examine the mammoth legislation and propose changes.
Politico reported that Congressional Progressive Caucus members have "been advised to say they're 'undecided' when party leaders conduct a whip check."
"Under no circumstances are we ready to vote on the bill this week," Jayapal told Politico.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, voiced her disapproval of House Democrats' newly unveiled coronavirus relief package in a series of tweets late Tuesday, calling the 1,815-page bill insufficient to match the scale of the unprecedented economic and public health crisis that the United States is currently facing.
Jayapal, a Washington Democrat, warned that the HEROES Act would not do nearly enough to stem nationwide layoffs or ensure healthcare coverage for the millions of people who have been thrown off their employer-provided insurance plans.
"I am ready and willing to make this legislation better. We need a full conversation and an open process so we can address this crisis before it gets worse--because if we fail to do so at this moment, it will."
--Rep. Pramila Jayapal
"With more than 33 million people filing for unemployment in seven weeks, workers are looking for certainty about how we end mass unemployment and how they'll get their next paycheck," Jayapal wrote. "This legislation doesn't end mass unemployment and it doesn't get paychecks back into their pockets."
Nor does the bill "ensure affordable healthcare for everyone," said Jayapal, who advocated expanding Medicare to cover the unemployed and uninsured--a proposal that was left out of the package in favor of expensive COBRA subsidies, which critics denounced as a handout to the private insurance industry.
"With 35 million at risk of losing their healthcare and 87 million uninsured or underinsured," Jayapal wrote, "people are looking for certainty about whether they'll be able to see a doctor and receive care--during a pandemic no less."
The Washington Democrat also warned that the bill does not do enough to help small businesses facing imminent collapse. "With millions of businesses not getting relief from [the Paycheck Protection Program], business owners are looking for certainty about how they'll avoid closing permanently w/o jeopardizing the wellbeing of workers," said Jayapal. "This bill doesn't tie funding to the basic public health guidelines required to do just that."
"The historic crisis Americans are facing will not end on its own," Jayapal added. "To end it, these three things--getting people paychecks, ensuring access to healthcare, supporting businesses and their workers--are critical. But this legislation does not yet address them at the scale necessary."
\u201cI am ready and willing to make this legislation better. We need a full conversation and an open process so we can address this crisis before it gets worse\u2014because if we fail to do so at this moment, it will.\u201d— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@Rep. Pramila Jayapal) 1589328309
During a Democratic caucus call Monday evening ahead of the bill's introduction, Jayapal reportedly confronted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) over the exclusion of a paycheck guarantee proposal that would have provided businesses with grants to keep workers employed amid the coronavirus crisis. The proposal was widely praised by progressives and unions leaders and reportedly had broad support among House Democrats.
Jayapal also criticized the way in which the massive bill was assembled--largely behind closed doors and with little input from rank-and-file members, who are currently in their home districts.
In a letter to Pelosi late Tuesday, Jayapal and her fellow Progressive Caucus co-chair Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) demanded that the planned Friday vote on the legislation be pushed back so members can fully examine the mammoth legislation and propose changes.
Politico reported that Congressional Progressive Caucus members have "been advised to say they're 'undecided' when party leaders conduct a whip check."
"Under no circumstances are we ready to vote on the bill this week," Jayapal told Politico.