March 23, 2020

Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds the Introduction of the Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act

OAKLAND, CACongresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement in support of House Democrats’ new stimulus bill, the Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act, a bold and comprehensive phase three coronavirus response bill that injects more than $2.5 trillion into the American economy.

“As the coronavirus continues to spread and the crisis deepens, it is our job to ensure that every family, every worker, and every person in the United States has the resources they need to maintain their financial security and physical health. The Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act builds off the success of the House’s previous coronavirus response bills and expands access to critical services. It makes health care affordable and accessible, protects frontline workers, gives families immediate cash assistance, and expands unemployment insurance. Critically, the bill also dramatically expands SNAP so families can keep food on the table, and also includes my bill, H.R. 6347, the Rental Eviction Moratorium Act, to prevent landlords from evicting rental tenants during the COVID-19 public health emergency.”

The legislation was introduced by Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita M. Lowey (D-NY) and co-sponsored by House Administration Committee Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA), Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Oversight and Reform Committee Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), Small Business Committee Chairwoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-OR), and Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA).

The Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act builds on H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, enacted into law on March 18, and on the $8.3 billion emergency spending package enacted into law on March 6.

The text of the Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act, H.R. 6379, is here. A summary of H.R. 6379 is here. A one-pager on key details of the legislation is here

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