Tell Congress: Put People First — Not Corporations and Lobbyists

Almost 40% of households that were working in February and earned less than $40,000 a year lost a job in March, meaning the pain felt all across our country is concentrated in our working and lower-income families. Yet, our representatives in Washington continue to prioritize big corporations over rural communities, working families, and small businesses, with corporate lobbyists gaming the system for their own benefit.

So far, Congress’s coronavirus relief packages have failed to provide sufficient aid to those who truly need it. Because of a major loophole in the original bill that allocated millions of dollars to large corporations, the House recently passed a $480 billion relief package to replenish funds for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). While this program intended to provide relief for small businesses, it simply wasn’t enough. Too many small businesses were initially locked out of the program, while big banks prioritized their wealthiest clients first and the funding dried up (twice!) within a few short days.

Today, House Democrats are voting on their wish list priorities for the next coronavirus relief package, which is riddled with tax breaks and carve-outs for the wealthy and those who profit off the suffering of others. Included are provisions benefiting corporate lobbyists, a tax cut for wealthy real estate owners, subsidies for private insurance, and bailouts for mortgage services, landlords, and debt collectors.

It fails to include a paycheck guarantee, protections for frontline workers, increased oversight to previously allocated funds, a halt to big mergers and acquisitions, or a freeze or assistance with rent and mortgage payments. While lobbyists cannot benefit directly from the bill, measures need to be taken to stop the flow of stimulus dollars through corporate clients. If Members of Congress are going to use these spending bills as their own personal wish list, then they should be fighting for and delivering direct aid and resources for those who truly need it — not to the leeches who will do whatever it takes to earn an extra buck, even at the expense of others, even during a pandemic.

Meanwhile our rural communities have been left unprepared for the onslaught of new coronavirus cases. As of now, Iowa has over 13,000 confirmed cases and is 14th highest per capita in the nation — and yet, ranks 39th in terms of testing. Even though many of our nation’s cities are slowly recovering from this pandemic, our crisis is just beginning and we don’t have nearly the resources for testing, tracing, treatment, and recovery that we need.

Every aspect of our local economies, from farming to small businesses to manufacturing, have faced significant challenges. Meatpacking plants have become hotspots for the coronavirus outbreaks, especially in my hometown of Sioux City, closing down for days or weeks at a time and hurting farmers who are desperate for markets to sell their livestock. Corn, soybean, pork and other commodity prices have all plummeted and many of our small businesses remain closed due to state orders or fear of the coronavirus.

Now is not the time for Congress to pull punches or put corporations and lobbyists ahead of hardworking, honest people. We need to stand up and shout from the rooftops so working and rural communities get the help they need in the next coronavirus package.