COVID-19 Roundup
July 28 COVID-19 Policy & Black Communities Roundup
Senate Republicans Release Stimulus Plan Which Democrats Call “Woefully Inadequate” Yesterday Republicans released key parts of their stimulus plan—the HEALS Act (health, economic assistance, liability protection, and schools). Instead of including a flat $600 per week federal unemployment benefit (which is set to expire this Friday), the bill would set the sum at $200 per…
July 20 COVID-19 Policy & Black Communities Roundup
Senate Democrats Introduce a $350 Billion Stimulus Bill With the expanded $600 per week federal unemployment benefit set to expire at the end of this month and the White House open to compromise on the issue, Democrats and Republicans return to Washington this week and continue to debate over whether and how to extend jobless…
July 13 COVID-19 Policy & Black Communities Roundup
Still No Decisions on Coronavirus Relief Extensions Division remains on the size of the next stimulus package, with Democrats calling for at least double the $1 trillion limit proposed by the Trump Administration. Democrats—led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)—are resisting calls from the GOP to protect businesses from lawsuits that may be filed by…
July 6 COVID-19 Policy & Black Communities Roundup
Small Business Loan Program Extended to August On the Fourth of July, President Trump signed legislation to extend the deadline for businesses to apply for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to August 8. Earlier last week the House passed the legislation, and just hours before the program was scheduled to expire (with $130 billion still…
June 29 COVID-19 Policy & Black Communities Roundup
Upcoming Economic Data May Affect Next Coronavirus Stimulus On Thursday, July 2 the Bureau of Labor Statistics will release the June employment situation report, which will illuminate the status of the labor market (including data on unemployment among Black communities). On the same day, the Department of Labor will release last week’s initial unemployment claims…
June 16 COVID-19 Policy & Black Communities Roundup
Democrats and Republicans Work on Policing Reform After introducing a police reform bill at the beginning of last week, House Democrats held hearings on police reform, and expect to secure the 216 co-sponsors needed for passage of their reform package on the House floor (voting on the legislation is scheduled for June 25). Senate…
June 8 COVID-19 Policy & Black Communities Roundup
Death of George Floyd Shifts Congressional Focus to Police Reform In the wake of the murder of George Floyd and the daily protests against racial injustice it has sparked, today Democrats released a comprehensive police reform bill—the Justice in Policing Act. The bill would “ban chokeholds, limit ‘qualified immunity’ for police officers, create a national…
June 2 COVID-19 Policy & Black Communities Roundup
Taking Action Against Anti-Blackness At the Joint Center, we join with millions around the world in calling for an end to the continued marginalization of Black life that resulted in the deaths of Eric Garner in New York, Sandra Bland and Atatiana Jefferson in Texas, Jordan Davis in Florida, Walter Scott in South Carolina, Ahmaud…
May 27 COVID-19 Policy & Black Communities Roundup
Republicans Move Toward Stimulus A Navigator Research poll of 1,011 voters showed that the House’s $3 trillion HEROES Act received a 67% approval rating and that 50% of all respondents would disapprove if Senate Republicans don’t consider it. Taking heed to the growing sentiment for more relief, several Republican Senators threatened not to recess for…
May 19 COVID-19 Policy & Black Communities Roundup
The Impact of the HEROES Act on Black Communities Last Friday, U.S. House Democrats passed a $3 trillion bill to address economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic—the HEROES Act. The bill extends federal unemployment compensation, provides direct payments to individuals of $1200 per person, increases SNAP benefits, and includes resources for renters, homeowners, and the…