STATEMENT: Make the Road NJ Responds to House Introduction of Heroes Act
STATEMENT: Make the Road NJ Responds to House Introduction of Heroes Act
New Jersey (May 14, 2020) — In response to the House Democrats’ introduction of the HEROES Act, Make the Road New Jersey issued the following statement on behalf of the organization’s members:
“The Heroes Act takes important steps forward, though it still does not go far enough to provide a full recovery for all. We appreciate several of the bill’s provisions, including the extension of direct payments to all taxpayers, covering COVID-19 testing, treatment, and vaccination through emergency Medicaid, extending work permits for DACA and TPS holders, supporting state and local governments, providing grants to essential workers, and including Puerto Rico in relief. That said, this legislation will not meet the full needs of our communities in this moment, with insufficient support for tenants, workers, immigrants, and people incarcerated and detained in cages.
“We are very disappointed that the bill includes includes neither recurring payments to struggling workers across the country, full immigrant inclusion in Unemployment Insurance, nor the Paycheck Guarantee Act. It also fails to include the Health Care Emergency Guarantee Act, which would use the Medicare system to ensure that all people can access health care during this pandemic. We are further dismayed that the bill does not include concrete measures that would lead to the cancellation of rent, or take action to free incarcerated and detained people at risk.
“We hope that the House will now carefully consider this bill, make improvements to expand relief, and ultimately pass the strongest possible legislation to ensure a recovery for all.”
