ICYMI: Bipartisan Mayors From Across the Country Call On Congressional Leadership to Take Urgent Action on President Biden’s American Rescue Plan

 

FOR IMMIDIATE RELEASE February 1, 2021   ICYMI: Bipartisan Mayors From Across the Country Call On Congressional Leadership to Take Urgent Action on President Biden’s American Rescue Plan   Today, more than 411 mayors from across the United States wrote a letter to Speaker Pelosi, Leader Schumer, Leader McCarthy and Leader McConnell urging them to take immediate action in passing the American Rescue Plan to give their communities the assistance they desperately need. The mayors said that the President’s plan is critical to fund a national vaccine program and put the economy on a path to recovery.   The mayors wrote: “American cities and our essential workers have been serving at the frontlines of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic for nearly a year. We have been charged with executing herculean public health efforts and an unprecedented emergency response. Despite immense fiscal pressure, your local government partners oversaw those efforts, while trying to maintain essential services and increase our internal capacity to provide support for residents and businesses who have been crippled by a tanking economy.”   The 411 bipartisan mayors join a long list of economists and economic organizations urging the benefits of immediate relief including Brookings, Moody’s Analytics, and the Chief Economist of the International Monetary Fund. And a Reuters survey of dozens of economists found that over 90% believed that it would “boost the economy significantly.” The American Rescue Plan has received praise from across the political spectrum – from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Business Roundtable to Senator Sanders and organized labor. And, top economic advisors from the last four presidents: Kevin Hassett, Gene Sperling, R. Glenn Hubbard, and Alan Blinder have all said that additional stimulus is needed to rescue the economy     Letter: More than 400 Bipartisan Mayors Now Signed on To Letter Calling for Action on Direct Fiscal Assistance for Cities  [By United States Conference of Mayors, 2/1/2021]   Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader Schumer, Leader McCarthy and Leader McConnell On behalf of The United States Conference of Mayors, we urge you to take immediate action on comprehensive coronavirus relief legislation, including providing direct fiscal assistance to all cities, which is long overdue. President Biden’s American Rescue Plan contains such assistance as part of an aggressive strategy to contain the virus, increase access to life-saving vaccines, and create a foundation for sustainable and inclusive recovery.   American cities and our essential workers have been serving at the frontlines of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic for nearly a year. We have been charged with executing herculean public health efforts and an unprecedented emergency response. Despite immense fiscal pressure, your local government partners oversaw those efforts, while trying to maintain essential services and increase our internal capacity to provide support for residents and businesses who have been crippled by a tanking economy.   And yet, as the economic engines of our country, local governments will be relied upon to lead the longterm economic recovery our nation so desperately needs, even as, with few exceptions, cities have been largely left without direct federal assistance. The lack of adequate support has resulted in budget cuts, service reductions, and job losses. Sadly, nearly one million local government jobs have already been lost during the pandemic. Our essential workers deserve federal relief like any other sector. The $350 billion in direct relief to state and local governments included in President Biden’s American Rescue Plan would allow cities to preserve critical public sector jobs and help drive our economic recovery. Providing direct, flexible aid to cities is the most efficient and immediate way to help families and their communities who have been suffering for far too long.   Furthermore, cities must be central to a deliberate strategy to accelerate vaccinations throughout the country. We support President Biden’s proposal to mount a national vaccination program and the provision of additional resources to cities to bolster our efforts to contain the spread of the virus.   Your quick action on President Biden’s plan is a crucial step to making meaningful progress in one of the most challenging moments in our country’s history. The United States Conference of Mayors is eager to work with Congress and the incoming Administration to meet this challenge. We encourage you to take up the President’s rescue plan as soon as possible in the 117th Congress.   Thank you for your leadership during this time of national crisis, and please feel free to reach out to our CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran at 202-744-9110 / tcochran@usmayors.org or Chief of Staff Ed Somers at 202-744-9223 / esomers@usmayors.org to discuss this priority request.   Full list of signatures can be found here.

Statement by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. on the Situation in Burma

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 1, 2021   Statement by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. on the Situation in Burma   The military’s seizure of power in Burma, the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi and other civilian officials, and the declaration of a national state of emergency are a direct assault on the country’s transition to democracy and the rule of law. In a democracy, force should never seek to overrule the will of the people or attempt to erase the outcome of a credible election. For almost a decade, the people of Burma have been steadily working to establish elections, civilian governance, and the peaceful transfer of power. That progress should be respected.   The international community should come together in one voice to press the Burmese military to immediately relinquish the power they have seized, release the activists and officials they have detained, lift all telecommunications restrictions, and refrain from violence against civilians. The United States is taking note of those who stand with the people of Burma in this difficult hour. We will work with our partners throughout the region and the world to support the restoration of democracy and the rule of law, as well as to hold accountable those responsible for overturning Burma’s democratic transition.   The United States removed sanctions on Burma over the past decade based on progress toward democracy. The reversal of that progress will necessitate an immediate review of our sanction laws and authorities, followed by appropriate action.   The United States will stand up for democracy wherever it is under attack.

Statement by White House Spokesperson Jen Psaki on Burma

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 31, 2021   Statement by White House Spokesperson Jen Psaki on Burma The United States is alarmed by reports that the Burmese military has taken steps to undermine the country’s democratic transition, including the arrest of State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi and other civilian officials in Burma. President Biden has been briefed by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. We continue to affirm our strong support for Burma’s democratic institutions and, in coordination with our regional partners, urge the military and all other parties to adhere to democratic norms and the rule of law, and to release those detained today. The United States opposes any attempt to alter the outcome of recent elections or impede Myanmar’s democratic transition, and will take action against those responsible if these steps are not reversed. We are monitoring the situation closely and stand with the people of Burma, who have already endured so much in their quest for democracy and peace.

ICYMI: Washington Post: Opinion: The experts get to talk

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 31, 2021   ICYMI: Washington Post: Opinion: The experts get to talk   Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin writes today about the Biden Administration’s mission to ensure the public is getting the latest facts about the health crisis directly from the experts and public officials leading the government’s response: “One need not be a scientist to appreciate the level of detail, professionalism, competence and candor on display. It is hard to overstate the magnitude of change that has taken place from the rampant disinformation and unhinged, politicized briefings of the last administration to the sober, professional communications we now see.”   She also described her impressions from attending the briefing: “The experts patiently answered questions from reporters. They explained why prevention measures such as masks are still required. There were no snarky comments. There was no political member of the administration — let alone the president — present. The goal was to disseminate more, not less, information.”   She concludes with this: “As it turns out, facts can be reassuring, and professionals can instill trust in public health in a way crazed politicians cannot. One can only imagine how many lives might have been saved had we had this team in place from the get-go. If only Republicans would tune in now, they might get a better appreciation for the urgency of rescue funds needed to eradicate the pandemic. For their professional, careful work and public education efforts we can say, well done, Drs. Fauci and Walensky and Mr. Slavitt.”   Washington Post: Opinion: Distinguished persons of the week: The experts get to talk [By Jennifer Rubin, 1/31/2021] Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, leaders of the administration’s covid-19 task force tell the American public all sorts of facts, from the number of vaccinations administered nationwide to the efficacy of the new Johnson & Johnson vaccine to the steps underway to purchase enough vaccines to inoculate all Americans. The hearings are detailed and dry, but they are thoroughly reassuring in that experts are finally able to speak openly and without political restraints. For example, members of President Biden’s covid-19 response team — including Anthony S. Fauci, Biden’s chief medical adviser; Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and senior adviser Andrew Slavitt — delivered a raft of data on Friday. Walensky did not mince words in detailing the pace of the virus: “We continue to have over four times the daily number of cases as we had over the summer. Through Jan. 27, 25.4 million covid-19 cases have been reported to CDC,” she said. “During the week of Jan. 21 to Jan. 27, the seven-day average of new cases decreased 16.6 percent to 161,832 per day.” She marched through the numbers on deaths and hospitalization and spoke about the deep concern regarding “the emergence of variants in the United States and are rapidly ramping up surveillance and sequencing activities as we work to closely monitor and identify variants as they emerge.” Fauci, for his part, shared details about the new variants and the administration’s plans to expand vaccination to children by the summer. Slavitt reviewed the week’s developments, including the increase in vaccine supply, the administration’s goal to give governors a “three-week forward window” to know how much vaccine to expect and the purchase of “200 million additional vaccines, which means that no matter what happens with other approvals, we will have sufficient supply to vaccinate the country.” Slavitt added: “At the president’s direction, FEMA has increased its support to states, tribes and territories for vaccination sites. FEMA is providing nearly $1 billion to support vaccination sites in states and territories. More than 200 FEMA staff members are on the ground today, providing logistical support in eight states, and the agency is providing federal equipment and supplies to support states across the country.” Slavitt also made a point to stress the need for more money from Congress so that the government could better surveil the spread of variants. “Look, if we as a country want to turbocharge our efforts at [sequencing the genetic information of viruses], which I believe should be a shared bipartisan perspective, we can do that," he said. "What we need is the Congress to quickly pass the American Rescue Plan, which contains the resources necessary to get all of our very, very talented people around the country, who are world experts at sequencing, to get on this as quickly as possible.” The experts patiently answered questions from reporters. They explained why prevention measures such as masks are still required. There were no snarky comments. There was no political member of the administration — let alone the president — present. The goal was to disseminate more, not less, information. One need not be a scientist to appreciate the level of detail, professionalism, competence and candor on display. It is hard to overstate the magnitude of change that has taken place from the rampant disinformation and unhinged, politicized briefings of the last administration to the sober, professional communications we now see. As it turns out, facts can be reassuring, and professionals can instill trust in public health in a way crazed politicians cannot. One can only imagine how many lives might have been saved had we had this team in place from the get-go. If only Republicans would tune in now, they might get a better appreciation for the urgency of rescue funds needed to eradicate the pandemic. For their professional, careful work and public education efforts we can say, well done, Drs. Fauci and Walensky and Mr. Slavitt.

ICYMI: New Report from Brookings Institution says American Rescue Plan Would Boost Economy

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 29, 2021   ICYMI: New Report from Brookings Institution says American Rescue Plan Would Boost Economy   A new report from the Brookings Institution estimates that President Biden’s American Rescue Plan would boost gross domestic product (GDP) by about 4 percent at the end of 2021, relative to current projections. The report further confirms the urgent need for action.  President Biden’s Plan will bring needed relief to American workers and families, positioning the economy for robust growth.   The report is the latest economic analysis that highlights the need for and economic benefit of the American Rescue Plan. Moody’s Analytics, in an independent analysis,  estimated that Biden’s plan would create 7.5 million jobs in 2021, double economic growth, and return the economy to full employment a year faster than previously projected. The International Monetary Fund’s Chief Economist also said that her organization’s preliminary analysis found that President Biden’s American Rescue Plan could boost U.S. economic growth by 5% over three years. And, more than 120 economists, signed a letter calling on Congress to pass Biden’s American Relief Plan and noted the importance of immediate action.   The American Rescue Plan has received praise from across the political spectrum – from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Business Roundtable to Senator Sanders and organized labor. And, top economic advisors from the last four presidents: Kevin Hassett, Gene Sperling, R. Glenn Hubbard, and Alan Blinder have all said that additional stimulus is needed to rescue the economy   President Biden is calling on Congress to act urgently. Passing his Plan will allow us to ramp up vaccinations, testing, and public health capacity so we can get the virus under control, get relief and support to the families and communities that have been hit hardest by the pandemic, and revive economic growth.     Brookings Institution:  The Macroeconomic Implications of Biden’s $1.9 Trillion Fiscal Package   The Biden Administration recently proposed an additional $1.9 trillion in federal spending to address the ongoing pandemic. We estimate that the package would boost economic activity, as measured by the level of real gross domestic product (GDP), by about 4 percent at the end of 2021 and 2 percent at the end of 2022, relative to a projection that assumes no additional fiscal support.   …   Without additional fiscal support, we project that real GDP would remain below the pre-pandemic level for the next several years. In the near term, without additional federal resources to contain the resurgence of the pandemic and distribute vaccines, the economy will face substantial headwinds. More broadly, millions of households will suffer as a result of waning fiscal support for the unemployed and households and businesses suffering financially. Indeed, Biden’s fiscal package should be judged primarily based on the extent to which it invests in COVID-19 containment and vaccination and provides needed relief to help households and businesses weather the pandemic.

FORWARDING FROM CDC - Media Statement from CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, MD, MPH, on Extending the Eviction Moratorium

 

FORWARDING FROM CDC - - - - - - - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  January 29, 2021 Contact: CDC Media Relations (404) 639-3286 Media Statement from CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, MD, MPH, on Extending the Eviction Moratorium   CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky signed an extension to the order determining the evictions of tenants for failure to make rent or housing payments could be detrimental to public health control measures to slow the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. This extension will carry this order that was scheduled to expire January 31, 2021 through March 31, 2021.   The COVID-19 pandemic has presented a historic threat to our nation's health. Despite extensive mitigation efforts, COVID-19 continues to spread in America at a concerning pace. The pandemic has also exacerbated underlying issues of housing insecurity for many Americans. Keeping people in their homes and out of congregate settings — like shelters — is a key step in helping to stop the spread of COVID-19. This Fact Sheet: President-elect Biden’s Day One Executive Actions Deliver Relief for Families Across America Amid Converging Crises | The White House provides additional information on actions being taken as part of the Federal government’s response to the COVDI-19 pandemic.   CDC remains committed and will continue to explore and use all of the tools at our disposal to protect the health and well-being of Americans affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.   The order can be found at: >https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/covid-eviction-declaration.html<

FORWARDING FROM DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION- Education Department Letter Highlights Effort to Help Americans Pursue Higher Ed During Pandemic

 

FORWARDING FROM DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - - - - - - - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 29, 2021 Contact: Press Office 202-401-1576 or press@ed.gov   Education Department Letter Highlights Effort to Help Americans Pursue Higher Ed During Pandemic    Following up on President Biden’s Executive Order last week directing all federal agencies to address the current economic crisis resulting from the pandemic, the U.S. Department of Education today announced a special effort to help Americans pursue higher education. As part of its ongoing response to that order, the department released a letter reminding student financial aid administrators of their ability to make it easier for those who are unemployed or have received unemployment assistance to get federal aid for postsecondary education. For instance, the letter reminds aid administrators that they have authority under the Higher Education Act to engage in “professional judgment” – a process that allows them to adjust factors that play into a student’s eligibility for federal financial aid, such as their income. The letter informs administrators that at all times – but especially during the national pandemic – they may set income from work to zero for a student or parent who received unemployment benefits. This, in turn, may make applicants eligible for a Pell Grant or possibly a larger loan award. “Easing the economic burden on working people is critical in helping America recover from the ongoing pandemic and its effects. Under the President’s leadership, we are working to help families who have lost jobs to get financial support to pursue higher education,” the department stated. For more information on student financial aid, please see the department’s webpage, studentaid.ed.gov.  The site contains extensive information on how students can apply for aid to pursue higher education.

Remarks by President Biden and Treasury Secretary Yellen Before an Economic Briefing

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELASE January 29, 2021   Remarks by President Biden and Treasury Secretary Yellen Before an Economic Briefing Oval Office     11:21 A.M. EST        THE PRESIDENT:  Well, folks, I'm going to have a discussion here with Secretary Yellen and my economic team to discuss the economic consequences of the Congress failing to pass our American Rescue Plan.  There is an overwhelming consensus among economists left, right, and center that this is a unique moment in this crisis, and the cost of inaction is high, and -- the cost of inaction is high and that it’s growing every day.    The crisis accel- -- itself is accelerating.  Nine hundred thousand more Americans filed unemployment -- for unemployment insurance in this week alone.  Thirty million Americans don’t have enough food to eat this week.    And interest rates are at historic lows, and the return on smart investments in the economy have never been higher.  And it's not just me saying this; as I said, it's the consensus among the vast majority of leading economists in the country -- as I said, left, right, and center -- including advisors to former President Trump and George W. Bush.    And so I've been meeting all morning with other folks, as well.  The notion here is the -- we have to act now; there's no time for any delay.  And so we can end up with 4 million fewer jobs this year, according to Moody's, a Wall Street firm, and it could take a year longer to return to full employment if we don’t act and don’t act now.    We could see an entire cohort of kids with a lower lifetime earnings because they're deprived of another semester of school.  Millions of parents and maybe some of you -- millions of parents are -- particularly moms -- are forced to stay home, reducing the family wages.  And if they're a single-wage earner, it’s really difficult.  And future job prospects that -- they have no choice but to stay home and take care of their children.  Millions of people are out of work, unemployed.  Future millions are held back for no good reason other than our failure to act.    So, the choice couldn’t be clearer.  We have learned from past crises the risk is not doing too much; the risk is not doing enough.  And this is the time to act now.    And I've asked Secretary Yellen, who has been leading this effort, to come in, and we're going to go into some detail among ourselves, but I think she has a statement to make, as well.   SECRETARY YELLEN:  Thank you very much, Mr. President.   THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, Madam Secretary.   SECRETARY YELLEN:  Well, there is a huge amount of pain in our economy right now, and it was evident in the data released yesterday.  Over a million people applied for unemployment insurance last week, and that’s far more than in the worst week of the Great Recession.  And economists agree that if there's not more help, many more people will lose their small businesses, the roofs over their heads, and the ability to feed their families.  And we need to help those people before the virus is brought under control.    The President's American Rescue Plan will help millions of people make it to the other side of this pandemic, and it will also make some smart investments to get our economy back on track.    I want to emphasize, the President is absolutely right: The price of doing nothing is much higher than the price of doing something and doing something big.  We need to act now, and the benefits of acting now and acting big will far outweigh the costs in the long run.   Q    Mr. President, what do you think of the Johnson & Johnson results?   THE PRESIDENT:  I'm waiting to hear from -- I'm waiting to hear from the team on the detail of it.  I saw the news reported this morning.  I haven’t had a chance to speak with Dr. Fauci.    One point I want to make that the Secretary made -- now let's get this straight: It's not only that people will be badly, badly hurt if we don’t pass this package, in terms of increased rate of death, in terms of poverty -- a whole range of things -- but we will also be hurt long term, economically.  Economically.    We need to make this investment so the economy can grow the remainder of this year and next year.  The investments now will help the economy grow.  It will not, in fact, put -- be a -- put a drag on the economy, us spending this money.  It'll do the exact opposite.    So, thank you all very much.                                 END                11:28 A.M. EST

Statement on the 12th Anniversary of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act

 

Statement on the 12th Anniversary of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act

Twelve years ago to the day, President Obama and I were a little over a week into our time in office. While we were working with Congress on what became the Recovery Act that kept us from another Great Depression, we got another groundbreaking and critical piece of economic legislation passed and to the President’s desk. I stood next to him and the incredible woman for whom the first law he would ever sign was named after, Lilly Ledbetter. Before she was a household name, she was like so many other women in the workforce – who worked hard, with honor, only to find out she was being paid less than a man for the same work.   The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act marked one small step to give women a fair chance to get ahead in this country. But we’re still far from full fair pay in the workplace -- as we’ve seen in this pandemic and economic crisis.   Women are disproportionately working on the frontlines caring for our loved ones and working to beat the virus, but they continue to earn less than their male counterparts. The pandemic is widening women's income and wealth gaps, as more than two million have dropped out of the labor force, partly reflecting the increased domestic labor demands on women during the pandemic. Vice President Harris and I will lead an economic recovery that not only brings women back into the workforce, but that also breaks down barriers that have left women, especially women of color, unseen, underpaid, and undervalued.   We applaud Senator Murray and Congresswoman DeLauro for reintroducing the Paycheck Fairness Act, which will take critical steps to end pay discrimination and increase transparency by protecting workers from retaliation for simply sharing their wages with their colleagues. It will also ban employers from seeking salary history, so they have one less false justification for under-paying women and people of color. And, it will provide tools to hold employers accountable for engaging in systemic discrimination. We urge Congress to pass it and to go further to end pay discrimination –starting by dramatically increasing funding for enforcement so that employers are held accountable.   We also need to take additional steps to help women have more choices to rejoin or stay in the workforce and to have more options for high-paying jobs. That includes by providing paid family and medical leave, making child care more affordable and schedules more predictable and flexible, and building training pipelines into high-paying jobs. It also includes raising the minimum wage and boosting pay for those in the care economy – including child care workers, home health aides, and pre-school teacher .And, we must make it easier for workers to organize and bargain collectively, a critical path to reducing the wage gap for women. As we do this work, we urge employers across the country to partner with us and take immediate action to change the culture and pay practices that foster discrimination.   We cannot move forward while leaving half of our country behind. I hope there is a bill that comes to my desk for me to sign, with Vice President Harris standing next to me as we ensure that women are valued, appreciated, and given the fair shot they deserve.

FORWARDING FROM DOL: NEWS RELEASE: US Department of Labor issues stronger workplace guidance on coronavirus January 29, 2021

 

FORWARDING FROM DEPARTMENT OF LABOR - - - - - - -  U.S. Department of Labor | January 29, 2021   US Department of Labor issues stronger workplace guidance on coronavirus New OSHA guidance seeks to mitigate, prevent viral spread in the workplace   WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that its Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued stronger worker safety guidance to help employers and workers implement a coronavirus protection program and better identify risks which could lead to exposure and contraction. Last week, President Biden directed OSHA to release clear guidance for employers to help keep workers safe from COVID-19 exposure.   “Protecting Workers: Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace” provides updated guidance and recommendations, and outlines existing safety and health standards. OSHA is providing the recommendations to assist employers in providing a safe and healthful workplace.   “More than 400,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 and millions of people are out of work as a result of this crisis. Employers and workers can help our nation fight and overcome this deadly pandemic by committing themselves to making their workplaces as safe as possible,” said Senior Counselor to the Secretary of Labor M. Patricia Smith. “The recommendations in OSHA’s updated guidance will help us defeat the virus, strengthen our economy and bring an end to the staggering human and economic toll that the coronavirus has taken on our nation.”   Implementing a coronavirus protection program is the most effective way to reduce the spread of the virus. The guidance announced today recommends several essential elements in a prevention program: Conduct a hazard assessment. Identify control measures to limit the spread of the virus. Adopt policies for employee absences that don’t punish workers as a way to encourage potentially infected workers to remain home. Ensure that coronavirus policies and procedures are communicated to both English and non-English speaking workers. Implement protections from retaliation for workers who raise coronavirus-related concerns.   “OSHA is updating its guidance to reduce the risk of transmission of the coronavirus and improve worker protections so businesses can operate safely and employees can stay safe and working,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Jim Frederick.   The guidance details key measures for limiting coronavirus’s spread, including ensuring infected or potentially infected people are not in the workplace, implementing and following physical distancing protocols and using surgical masks or cloth face coverings. It also provides guidance on use of personal protective equipment, improving ventilation, good hygiene and routine cleaning.   OSHA will update today’s guidance as developments in science, best practices and standards warrant.   This guidance is not a standard or regulation, and it creates no new legal obligations. It contains recommendations as well as descriptions of existing mandatory safety and health standards. The recommendations are advisory in nature, informational in content and are intended to assist employers in recognizing and abating hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm as part of their obligation to provide a safe and healthful workplace.   Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to help ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. Learn more about OSHA. ###       Media Contacts:   Jesse Lawder, 202-693-2840, Lawder.Jesse@dol.gov Denisha Braxton, 202-693-5061, Braxton.Denisha.L@dol.gov   Release Number:  21-143-NAT

FORWARDING FROM DHS: PRESS RELEASE: Acting DHS Secretary Pekoske Extends Temporary Protected Status for Syria

 

FORWARDING FROM DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY - - - - - - -   U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Office of Public Affairs FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 29, 2021 Acting DHS Secretary Pekoske Extends Temporary Protected Status for Syria WASHINGTON—Today, DHS Acting Secretary Pekoske announced an 18-month extension and re-designation of Syria’s Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation. This action enables over 6,700 eligible Syrian nationals (and individuals without nationality who last resided in Syria) to retain their TPS through September 2022 and allows approximately 1,800 additional individuals to file initial applications to obtain such status.  The DHS Secretary may designate TPS to a foreign country if conditions fall into one, or more, of the three statutory bases for designation: armed conflict, environmental disasters, and extraordinary and temporary conditions. Acting Secretary Pekoske decided to extend and newly designate Syria for TPS after consultation with interagency partners and careful consideration of Syria’s current conditions. The Syrian civil war continues to demonstrate deliberate targeting of civilians, the use of chemical weapons and irregular warfare tactics, and use of child soldiers. The war has also caused sustained need for humanitarian assistance, an increase in refugees and displaced people, food insecurity, limited access to water and medical care, and large-scale destruction of Syria’s infrastructure. These conditions prevent Syrian nationals from safely returning. Under the TPS statute, a country’s TPS designation can be extended for a period of 6, 12, or 18 months. A country can also be re-designated for TPS, which allows eligible individuals to obtain TPS even if they entered the United States after the effective date of the prior designation. Former DHS Secretary Napolitano initially designated Syria for TPS in March 2012.  The designation was subsequently extended and renewed by former Secretary Johnson in 2015 and 2016, and extended by former Secretary Nielsen, and former Acting Secretary McAleenan.  Current beneficiaries under Syria’s TPS designation are eligible to re-register for an extension of their status for 18 months. Syrian nationals who entered the United States after August 1, 2016 and are otherwise eligible may register as well. DHS will publish a notice in the Federal Register with instructions for re-registration and employment authorization. The DHS Secretary will make the next decision to extend or terminate the designation for Syria on or before July 31, 2022.

ICYMI: Bi-Partisan Mayors From Across the Country are Calling on Congress to Take Immediate Action in Passing Biden’s Recovery Plan to Save America’s Hometowns January 29, 2021

 

FOR IMMIDIATE RELEASE January 29, 2021   ICYMI: Bi-Partisan Mayors From Across the Country are Calling on Congress to Take Immediate Action in Passing Biden’s Recovery Plan to Save America’s Hometowns Today, over 340 American Mayors made a plea to the United States Congress to pass the American Recovery Plan to assist them in providing for and protecting their communities that have been hit hard and desperately need support from the federal government. From testing shortages to small business closures and navigating a virtual education system for our youngest - mayors have been at the forefront of this battle and have seen firsthand how this pandemic has hit some of our most vulnerable neighbors. “We’ve been sounding the alarm for months that big cities and small towns everywhere are struggling as a direct consequence of this pandemic,” said USCM President and Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer. “President Biden understands that cities are the key to our nation’s economic recovery, and that without direct fiscal assistance, we’ll drag, not drive the economy for years to come. Congress must follow President Biden’s lead and give cities the assistance they need to defeat the virus and build a sound foundation for recovery.” “It is not true that this is a big city or a blue state problem,” said Arlington (TX) Mayor Jeff Williams. “That’s nonsense. I can tell you there are Republican mayors just like me who are in immediate need of fiscal relief. I can tell you there are cities all across Texas, big and small, that are all facing the same crunch…Just as no small business could have foreseen what would have happened, no city could have planned for a crisis of this scale.” “Our budgets are under extreme stress … our expenses are skyrocketing … our essential life-saving services are through the roof,” said USCM Vice President and Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley. “President Biden has put forth an aggressive plan to contain the virus and rebuild our economy. We are so looking forward to partnering with his administration to do just that, but we can’t do the partnership without help now. This is it. This is the moment. Cities are the backbone of the American economy, and if we want to build back better, we cannot let what’s left of the foundation crumble.” Read the full article here. USA Today: Mayors call for immediate passage of Biden’s COVID-19 relief bill  [By Joey Garrison, 1/28/2021] Facing budget shortfalls and reduced city services, America’s mayors made an urgent plea Thursday for Congress to quickly pass President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 relief bill, which would provide $350 billion in direct aid for city and state governments.  “This is it. This is the moment,” said Dayton, Ohio, Mayor Nan Whaley, vice president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors in a conference call with media. “Cities are the backbone of the American economy. If we want to be able to build back better, we can’t let what’s left of the foundation crumble.” Mayors said the sagging economy as a result of the coronavirus pandemic has decreased sales, property and income tax collections across the country.  Some cities have laid off city employees. Others have made cuts to waste collection, public transit, hours of government services or canceled infrastructure projects and put off hiring new police officers and firefighters. “Every day that is delayed, more consequences are being realized, and very much negative consequences,” said Arlington, Texas, Mayor Jeff Williams. He called on Congress not to put off aid any longer. “Next time needs to be now.” Although some states and cities have experienced greater revenue intakes than forecasted last spring in the early weeks of the pandemic, local leaders said they are still crunched.  Tacoma, Washington, Mayor Victoria Woodards, citing a survey from the National League of Cities, said 90% of municipal governments have experienced a revenue decrease of at least 21% and 76% of cities have experienced an expenditure increase of 17%. “We cannot leave – I repeat, we cannot leave – America’s hometowns behind,” Woodards said. “And we need Congress to act, not yesterday, not tomorrow, not the day after tomorrow, but we need them to act now.” The $900 billion relief package that Congress passed in December did not include direct aid for cash-starved local and state governments, which Democrats have been pushing. Only 38 cities received direct federal assistance from former President Donald Trump’s Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act that passed last March, according to Whaley.  More than 370 mayors this month signed a letter urging Congress to take “immediate action” on Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill. The White House has indicated it hopes for passage by March. But while congressional Democrats are firmly behind the legislation, no Senate Republicans have offered their support. Thursday’s call also included DeKalb County, Georgia, Commissioner Larry Johnson; Clark County, Nevada, Commission Chair Marilyn Kirkpatrick; and Union City, Georgia, Mayor Vince Williams.