California Workers, Businesses & Community Organizations Join Governor Newsom, State Legislative Leaders’ Call for Federal Relief

SACRAMENTO – Labor, business and civic leaders from throughout California joined Governor Gavin Newsom and state legislative leaders’ call for the federal government to provide relief to states and cities:

 

California Professional Firefighters: “Our members are on the front lines risking their lives and health responding to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis in their communities. The funding and programmatic changes in the HEROES Act are critical to keep firefighters on the front lines to protect the health and safety of all Californians during this unprecedented public health emergency and resulting economic crisis.”

 

CalNonprofits: “The HEROES Act will provide necessary financial support to state and local governments to help prevent destructive and counterproductive program cuts. It will enhance access to small business and nonprofit relief programs like the Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program. It will provide struggling individuals and families with much-needed financial and other safety-net supports to help them meet their immediate needs and plan for a better future.”

California Labor Federation: “This direct aid to state and local governments will allow for the critical work of public servants to continue and ensure that the core functions of our government – public safety, education, health care and the administration of safety net programs – is uninterrupted. This relief will allow for our states to support workers, businesses and our economies.”

 

California Medical Association: “CMA is proud to strongly support HR 6800, “The Heroes Act,” as part of Congress’ continuing response  to the COVID-19 pandemic. It prioritizes the needs of states, physicians and patients who are on the frontlines, and will help to ensure our health care system, and our economy recover from this crisis. The Heroes Act will make a significant difference in physicians’ ability to continue to keep their doors open and care for patients now, during the COVID-19 surge and after, when we must address the second surge caused by months of delayed care.”

 

California State Association of Counties: “The HEROES Act would provide desperately needed federal assistance to California’s counties at a time when support is needed the most. Consistent with CSAC’s objectives for the next coronavirus relief bill, HR 6800 includes funding for a number of critically important programs, as well as added administrative flexibility and helpful reforms to existing programs.”

 

League of Cities: “The League strongly supports the $1 trillion in dedicated and flexible funding for states and local governments in the HEROES Act. We specifically support the $375 billion included in the bill for local governments, who are fighting this pandemic on the front lines alongside states and counties to protect public health and economic stability. ”

 

Building the California Dream Alliance: “We must not repeat the mistakes of the Great Recession, where a pullback in public investment at the state and local levels accelerated the economy’s downward spiral, resulting in greater job loss, a longer and slower recovery, and long-term damage to those who had the least to begin with. Now is a time to redouble our commitment to a just and inclusive recovery. We must choose the proven path of stimulus instead of the destructive dead-end and failed policy of austerity.”

 

California Travel & Tourism Coalition: “Therefore, we support the Western States Pact requesting $1 trillion in direct and flexible relief to states and local governments. Though even this amount will not replace the decline in revenue that is forecast as a result of lost tourism jobs and revenue, it will make a meaningful difference in our governments’ ability to make-up for COVID-19 revenue losses. This aid would preserve core government services like public health, public safety, public education and help people get back to work. It would help our state and cities come out of this crisis stronger and more resilient.”