Lawmakers and Hispanic Federation Call on Inclusion of All Latinos Including Immigrants and Puerto Ricans in Next COVID-19 Relief Bill
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact:
Gebe Martinez
gebe.gmnetworking@gmail.com
703-731-9505
Watch the press conference: bit.ly/2yrBMcR
NEW YORK, NY -- During a video press conference today, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Joaquin Castro of Texas and Rep. Adriano Espaillat of New York joined Hispanic Federation in calling for COVID-19 disaster relief for all Latinos, including immigrants and Puerto Ricans who receive limited assistance in the previous three aid packages enacted by Congress. The news conference took place as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi begins discussions on provisions for the next relief bill which will have an “infrastructure” theme.
Hispanic Federation is urging Congress to pass a bill that secures the health and safety for all people, regardless of immigration status or geographic location; orders the release of immigrant detainees --adults and children -- who are being held in unsafe conditions and are even more susceptible to contracting the deadly virus; and to ensure that Puerto Rico is given greater access to programs in the $2 trillion CARES Act enacted a week ago.
Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-TX, Hispanic Congressional Caucus Chairman, said:
“With less than one-in-five Latinos able to work from home, the Latino community is on the frontlines of this war with an invisible enemy and at the greatest risk of coronavirus infection. The CARES Act is a strong start to help working families, provide relief for small businesses, and surge emergency resources to hospitals, but our work to heal this nation is far from over.”
“In the next coronavirus recovery bill, Congress must do more to provide health and financial support to all American workers and families, no matter their immigration or citizenship status. This is not only a sad situation, but a moment to remember the humanity of every single person and provide economic relief to everyone. Health care workers and farm workers, folks providing essential services deserve not only our profound gratitude, but also real compensation in terms of hazard pay.”
“COVID-19 does not discriminate between citizens and immigrants, wealthy and poor, rural and urban—everyone is impacted by this unprecedented pandemic. In order to ensure public health, all families regardless of immigration status, need to have access to free COVID-19 testing, treatment, and any future vaccine.”
Rep. Adriano Espaillat, D-NY, whose Upper Manhattan district is part of ground zero for the pandemic, said:
“America is currently facing a grave health emergency with a serious impact on the health and well-being of individuals, workers and our economy. During this global pandemic, members of Congress are working urgently to create much needed relief to families and small businesses all across this country, including in our great state of New York which has become the epicenter of this pandemic. My CHC colleagues and I continue our efforts to ensure the inclusion of immigrant families in the national response to COVID-19, because one thing we know for sure is that the virus is affecting each of us regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation or nation of birth.”
Frankie Miranda, Hispanic Federation President said:
“We support the House’s work to move forward a 4th legislative package to help our nation recover from the long-term effects of COVID-19. But we also expect Congress to remember that Latinos help provide the human “infrastructure” on which so much of our economy and society depend. All Latinos and immigrants must be covered by the emergency relief programs being created by Congress to help our country through this extraordinary time. Without healthy, hardworking immigrants, this country will have an even harder time recovering.
“The needs of Puerto Rico must also be addressed in a new legislative package. Puerto Rico has been neglected time and again by the current administration, including most recently when the Senate refused to provide any disaster assistance to Puerto Rico to help it recover from the devastating earthquakes. Puerto Rico and immigrants must be treated fairly. Corrections must be made to recently created programs. This is about life and death survival for the people and the economy of Puerto Rico, and for Latino communities across the country.”
Laura M. Esquivel, Hispanic Federation Vice President, Federal Policy and Advocacy said:
“Congress and the White House are taking a huge risk for the health and safety of the entire country by letting their decisions about who deserves health care and economic support be driven by antiimmigrant ideology. From the fields of California to the island colony in the Caribbean - the fates of all of us are more intertwined than ever during this period.
“The bottom line is that Congress must pass another COVID-19 relief bill that secures the health, safety and economic security for all Latinos; whatever their immigration status and wherever they live, if this country is going to make it through this crisis, minimize the loss of life, and see the long term economic recovery we need.”
