Congress has Passed a COVID-19 Relief Bill. It is Time to Write a New One.
By: Maureen Elizabeth O'Shea
Tags: Politics, Congress, Economics, Stimulus, Government

Congress has once again failed us. Instead of providing relief to those in need politicians have decided to focus on their own needs and those of their donors. While Congress has finally passed a stimulus bill it fails to address the severity of the crisis we face as a result of the pandemic and their lack of action. Congress must start work one the next stimulus deal that better addresses the needs of the American people.

This stimulus bill is like putting a band-aid on a bullet wound. This bill fails to help municipalities or states who have been forced to address this crisis on their own. State and local officials have been forced to make difficult decisions in how they should best address the health and economic crises. The lack of federal assistance has caused governors and local officials to enact shut-downs in an attempt to provide relief to hospitals who have experienced shortages of beds, supplies, and staff. To cover the expenses related to the pandemic state and local governments have had to reallocate funds from other programs or take out loans.

The lack of action by the federal government has pushed millions of Americans into joblessness and poverty. Millions of Americans have had little relief since March as there has been issues with state unemployment systems and the federal government has failed to deliver additional aid. As Americans have been evicted from their homes and forced to rely on miles-long food lines for assistance most Republicans have been focused on destroying our democracy.

If members of Congress understood the severity of the economic crisis we face as a result of the pandemic they would comprehend how their lack of action impacts the lives of Americans. If Congress understood the severity of the crises, they would understand the need of a monthly stimulus of at least $2,000 for Americans who are at least eighteen and earn less than $75,000 per year and give an additional $1,000 for dependents under the age of eighteen. This monthly stimulus in addition to the increased duration of unemployment would help Americans address their basic needs. The $2,000 per month would also help Americans cover unexpected that they have experienced as a result of the pandemic.

Beyond a monthly stimulus the American people need further economic relief. The duration that one can claim unemployment must also be lengthened to at least eighteen months as the economic crisis will outlast the health crisis. While the stimulus bill does provide additional funds for the Paycheck Protection Program there needs to be tougher oversight of this program and penalties for banks and other organizations who fail to follow its guidelines. Congress should also enact legislation that would allow borrowers to combine federal and private student loans into one loan backed by the federal government to prevent private lenders from entering into litigation with those who cannot afford to repay private student loans. Congress should have also included language to provide job training for those who are unemployed or wish to switch careers where there is shortage of workers.

The recent stimulus bill does not aid those who have been most impacted by the pandemic. Rather than providing state and local aid or direct payments to Americans the recent stimulus bill allows for a “three martini lunch” tax deduction for executives who still have lunch meetings in the midst of a pandemic. While this deduction would normally help restaurants the lack of in-person meetings as a result of the pandemic render this deduction useless.

Since the election the number of cases and deaths related to COVID-19 have exploded out of control and many Republicans have focused on destroying democracy rather than the people they were elected to represent. For nine months Congress failed to act as people have experienced economic carnage as hundreds of thousands have died as a result of lack of action and misinformation by Republicans in Congress and the Trump Administration. While this stimulus bill is not perfect the bill should be enacted and Congress should immediately start work on a new stimulus bill that would better address our health and economic crises. The American people can not wait another nine months for Congress to act.