MoveOn, Indivisible, Community Change Action Alarmed By "Inadequate Half Measures" Proposed In Negotiations Between Trump, Pelosi and Schumer

The following statement was released in response to reports that President Trump, Speaker Pelosi, and Leader Schumer are negotiating for an additional emergency relief package.

"Our communities are facing a public health crisis, an economic crisis, and a crisis in democracy of historic proportions. We are deeply alarmed by today's reports that Speaker Pelosi and Leader Schumer are acquiescing to severely inadequate half measures.

"To be clear, it is the White House and Senator McConnell who are trying to force a business-only measure that completely ignores the needs of American families. But that is sadly expected. We need more from Democratic leaders. We call on Speaker Pelosi and Leader Schumer to use the profound power they hold in this moment to provide solutions that will save lives and help families survive this crisis.

"Congress must immediately pass an emergency relief bill that is significantly larger than the last, and it must focus on the immediate needs of the American people.

"We call for a new relief package that provides immediate and sustained economic relief for the duration of this crisis to the millions of people who have been thrown out of work or are unable to make ends meet. It must prioritize the safety and wellbeing of all essential workers in our health care, food, sanitation, and other critical industries. It must provide access to quality health care for everyone who needs it and ensure child care and expanded safety net supports are available to everyone who needs them. It must take bold steps to address the ways communities of color -- especially Black and immigrant communities -- are being disproportionately impacted by this crisis. And it must ensure states have the resources to carry out safe and accessible elections.

"We are faced with a catastrophe of incompetence and immorality from the White House and Republican leaders, who threaten to both make the crisis worse and take advantage of the moment to further their right-wing agenda. In this moment, we need Speaker Pelosi and Leader Schumer to push President Trump and Sen. McConnell to enact a bill that brings real and rapid help to the people who need it most. They must also step up as leaders in building equitable solutions to promote sustainable economic and health care systems that the American people deserve and which can prevent a tragedy like this from ever happening again. The COVID-19 pandemic is exposing crippling deficiencies within our health, safety, and financial systems. Our millions of members know that we can pull through this crisis by pulling together. They expect Democrats to fight alongside them."

Signed by:

Indivisible Project
MoveOn
Community Change Action