GBPI Letter Urges Senators to Pass Comprehensive COVID-19 Relief

December 4, 2020

Senator David Perdue
455 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington DC 20510

Dear Senator Perdue,

The holiday season is supposed to be a time filled with joy and shared with loved ones. But this year, too many Georgians are unable to afford enough to eat, pay bills, or keep up with the rent and families need federal lawmakers to act now to provide adequate relief from COVID-19. Heading into the holiday season, 59 percent of Georgia families are not sure they can afford to put food on the table for the next four weeks. And too many families are behind on rent and could lose their homes. Communities of color in our state have been hit the hardest by the virus and the recession, and are disproportionately represented among unemployment insurance claimants.

Georgia is still seeing over half a million people claiming unemployment each week. Families across Georgia have had to cut way back on their spending, which hurts local businesses. The deepening spread of the virus is delaying the recovery by preventing states from reopening their economies more fully. The current spike coincides with the holiday season, which could hurt small businesses and workers who depend on holiday shopping.

Many of these families are relying on the aid the federal government passed early in the pandemic to make ends meet. But that help is expiring; COVID-19 cases are rising, and the economy is stalling again. Georgians need more aid now.

Earlier this fall, Senate Republicans proposed an aid package with more money for schools, more money for child care and another recovery rebate. This was a strong start, but it was missing important pieces. We know what is needed:

• Increases in SNAP benefits to help families put food on the table
• Adequate unemployment insurance benefits for people who have lost their jobs
• More aid to state and local governments to prevent more job layoffs and cuts in critical services
• As well as child care assistance and emergency rental assistance

These measures would help keep cash flowing to local businesses and support an economic rebound. They would help ensure every Georgian—particularly low-income families and communities of color who have been hardest hit by the pandemic—has the resources needed to put food on the table. We urge you to represent the needs of all Georgians by please supporting comprehensive COVID relief that includes food assistance, fiscal aid for state and local governments and other critical measures.

Sincerely,