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'Hunger Hasn't Paused,' Conn. Lawmakers Say In Push For $3 Trillion HEROES Act

Mark Lennihan
/
AP
Healthcare workers listen to Gov. Ned Lamont speak outside Saint Francis Hospital in Hartford last week. The U.S. House will soon be voting on the HEROES Act, which would provide hazard pay for frontline health care workers, among other relief measures.

Members of Connecticut’s congressional delegation say the House of Representatives cannot wait until it reaches a consensus with Senate Republicans before it votes on a second coronavirus relief package.

Rep. Jahana Hayes, D-CT-5, says the proposed HEROES Act would offer more than $1 trillion in state and local government aid ahead of budget deadlines on July 1. Other measures include funds for essential workers and direct payments to families. The entire cost of the legislation is $3 trillion.

“This can’t wait. Like the speaker has said, hunger hasn’t taken a pause. Unemployment hasn’t taken a pause. People’s bills haven’t taken a pause, and people are looking for some leadership.”

Rep. Jim Himes, D-CT-4, says the Democratic-majority House is right to vote on the legislation this week.

“Now the ball is in Mitch McConnell’s court. If you disagree with us, if you think that this can wait, if you think that states and municipalities don’t need aid, if you don’t think we need more food stamps money, tell us that now.”

Himes says the legislation would prevent layoffs of police, teachers and first responders.

Hayes and Himes were speaking on a video conference call with members of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee on Wednesday.

The Democratic-majority House is set to vote on the proposed HEROES Act on Friday.

Read the latest on WSHU’s coronavirus coverage here.

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Cassandra Basler, a former senior editor at WSHU, came to the station by way of Columbia Journalism School in New York City. When she's not reporting on wealth and poverty, she's writing about food and family.
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