(Washington, DC, Wednesday, April 29, 2020) – The COVID-19 pandemic continues to escalate, disrupting lives and fueling anxiety. As Congress responds, we must remind our elected leaders of their responsibility to act swiftly and with care and compassion as they address the pandemic and its economic repercussions.

Congress recently passed a third COVID-19 relief bill. The CARES Act contained important provisions, such as expanded unemployment assistance, stimulus checks, and funding for front line healthcare workers.

While the CARES Act was a crucial step, much more is still needed. The magnitude of the public health crisis and the expected depth of the economic impact mean that Congress is already talking about a fourth COVID-19 bill.

The Friends Committee on National Legislation is urging Congress to include:

• Boost to SNAP benefits for all SNAP households;
• Expand access to health care coverage and COVID-19 treatment for the uninsured;
• Give more federal assistance to states by fully funding all state Medicaid costs;
• Provide more child-care assistance; and
• Fix the gaps in the Child Tax Credit for adults not raising children and the 26 million children whose parents don’t earn enough money to claim the full value of the Child Tax Credit.