(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08) today joined Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05) and more than 50 colleagues in urging congressional leadership to prioritize direct relief for low-income and working class Americans, including those whose jobs may have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, in the third emergency aid package.

The Members wrote: "Approximately 40 percent of Americans wouldn’t be able to cover a $400 emergency with cash, savings or a credit-card charge that they could quickly pay off. These families are in the most need of help in these times of need. We are hearing from constituents every day who are afraid that they cannot pay their bills, put food on the table or afford their prescriptions."

The Members continued: “Direct cash assistance and increased unemployment insurance payments for low-income workers living paycheck to paycheck would have an immediate impact on our economy. Any assistance we get into the hands of these workers now will be directly spent, creating much-needed stimulus for our economy. Our focus should be getting, at a minimum, the same aid to families in a time of need and not treating low-income families differently than other families.”

A signed copy of the letter is available here. 

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