House of Representatives Must Pass the HEROES Act

on

UnidosUS president strongly urges ‘Yes’ vote on latest stimulus package

WASHINGTON, DC—The recently introduced $3 trillion HEROES Act represents significant progress in reducing the disproportionate impact the coronavirus crisis has had on our nation’s working families, including Latinos. In a letter sent to congressional leadership, UnidosUS President and CEO Janet Murguía, strongly urged House members to vote yes on the bill.

The HEROES Act includes several critical relief priorities, including health, income support and nutrition programs, that UnidosUS has been actively advocating for since the passage of the first CARES Act.

“The HEROES Act advances our public health by expanding free access to COVID-19 testing, treatment and vaccines, regardless of immigration status, and makes additional critical investments in care for the uninsured,” writes Murguía. “And the bill bolsters our economic security by providing additional cash payments to individuals and their dependents, including future and retroactive payments for ITIN holders and mixed status families, correcting a flaw in the CARES Act that left out some taxpaying families.”

Other key provisions include premium hazard pay for farmworkers critical to the United States’ food supply, $100 billion in emergency rental assistance, an increase in monthly SNAP benefits and work permits and protection from deportation for undocumented workers in essential jobs.

UnidosUS acknowledges the HEROES Act is not perfect. Nonetheless, the legislation is a major step in the right direction and would provide critical support to workers and families who have so far been denied relief.

“The pandemic has made it clearer than ever: our health and economic well-being are interconnected, and the heath care and economic relief passed by Congress must be as inclusive as possible to give us the greatest chance of putting this crisis behind us,” Murguía concludes. “This bill deserves strong, bipartisan support and we urge the Senate to use the HEROES Act as the blueprint for their next stimulus package.”