100+ Economists Push Pelosi to Urgently Boost Relief for Workers, Stem Massive Surge in Unemployment
In a pair of letters Wednesday, more than 100 economists urged Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to increase relief for workers affected by the coronavirus pandemic by making "substantial improvements" to the federal short-time compensation program and passing Rep. Pramila Jayapal's Paycheck Guarantee Act.
"Congress has the power to protect ordinary workers during this public health and economic crisis."
—Thea Lee, EPI
Both letters point out that over 26 million people have filed for unemployment benefits since mid-March—a figure that undercounts the real number of recent job losses—and that while Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act from March provided some much needed help, "it does not meet the scale of the Covid-19 crisis."
The legislation proposed by Jayapal (D-Wash.), co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), earlier this month would allow businesses nationwide to continue paying 100% of their employees' salaries of up to $100,000 annually, following the lead of various European countries. The bill was welcomed by labor unions and small business advocates.