Van Hollen Statement on Republican Release of COVID-19 Plan

U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding the COVID-19 plan released by Senate Republicans today:

“It’s bad enough that Senate Republicans are allowing many important protections to expire, but it’s outrageous that – when they finally unveiled their proposals today – they fall so far short of meeting the urgent needs around the country and, in many cases, will make the situation worse. The House of Representatives passed the HEROES Act over two months ago – and since then we’ve urged Republicans to come to the table. Instead, Mitch McConnell sat on his hands as this crisis worsened and crucial protections expired. The plan he released today fails to provide real relief to those who have been hit hardest. It punishes people out of work through no fault of their own by dramatically cutting their unemployment benefits – even as many Marylanders are still waiting on their UI payments. It does not renew the expired evictions protections that are needed to prevent families from being kicked out of their homes. And it lacks the support that Maryland workers, healthcare providers, small businesses, non-profits, and the state and local governments need to weather this storm. At the same time, it absolves corporations of all responsibility to protect their workers and customers from unsafe conditions. Republicans need to stop shilling for big corporations and join us in helping workers, families, and small businesses.”

Senator Van Hollen has urged Republicans to include a number of measures vital to our state and our country's response to the COVID-19 crisis, including:

• Funds to help state and local governments bolster their COVID-19 response efforts
• Provisions to expand enhanced unemployment insurance for Americans
• Language to extend the moratorium on evictions and provide renters and homeowners with much-needed relief
• Provisions to ensure Americans are able to vote as well as funding for vote-by-mail options
• Funding to support distance learning and close the “learning gap,” which prevents students from accessing their classes and educational resources online
• Provisions to expand the use of the Defense Production Act to significantly enhance domestic manufacturing of critical supplies and expand testing capacity
• Language to provide Washington, D.C. with the full amount of relief funds owed – due to its usual status as a state in budgetary bills
• Provisions to expand access to affordable health care, including by boosting Medicaid and reducing premiums
• Funding to increase housing counseling and expand other resources for financially struggling homeowners and renters
• Funding for personal protective equipment to help poll workers safely conduct the November election
• The Senator’s proposal to help small businesses weather the storm by expanding the work share program nationally to help employers shoulder payroll costs while workers retain wages
• Increased funding for SNAP to help families put food on the table
• Funding relief to support critical transit services, including Amtrak and MTA
• Provisions to require the federal government to maximize telework opportunities for employees
• Funding to support the U.S. Postal Service, which is a lifeline for small businesses and crucial to the November election
• Legislation to fund education for children with disabilities to ensure access to quality education
• Funding to support child care providers and schools through the pandemic, which will provide relief to families, students, educators, and schools
• Provisions to support higher education students and institutions
• Protections from aggressive medical debt collection during the pandemic
• Funding for community schools, which provide integrated student supports within their educational approach