Congresswoman Moore and Congresswoman Fudge led a letter to Speaker Pelosi and Minority Leader McCarthy to call for the inclusion of H.R. 5271, the Worker Relief and Credit Reform (WRCR) Act, bold legislation to modernize and expand the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) in the next major coronavirus response package. The WRCR Act benefits nearly half of all Americans (around 161 million); cuts the poverty rate by one-third; reaches family caregivers, low income students, and older workers; and provides more financial stability by smoothing income. In response, the Members released the following statement:
“The ongoing economic crisis triggered by COVID-19 is sounding the alarm on the need to deliver real relief to workers and families and strengthen our safety net programs. Though Congress has acted to ease the unprecedented economic hardship felt across our nation, I fear that financial ruin could create devasting impacts for years to come.
Our country needs the WRCR Act now; Americans deserve a resilient economy and a strong safety net that supports and uplifts them,” said Congresswoman Moore.
The current public health crisis is exposing the true face of poverty in America,” said Congresswoman Fudge. “Prior to the pandemic, many Americans were already working 40 hours a week at multiple jobs and still unable to provide for their families. As unemployment and layoffs continue to rise, we expect the economic recovery to be slow and uneven. Including the WRCR Act in the next response package will ensure workers and families maintain financial stability during and after this crisis.”
The letter was also co-signed by Representatives: Wm. Lacy Clay, Ro Khanna, Brenda L. Lawrence, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Jan Schakowsky, Rashida Tlaib, Bonnie Watson Coleman.
Read background information on the WRCR Act here.
