Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard is warning that the U.S. could face a 30% unemployment rate and an unprecedented 50% drop in gross domestic product because of shutdowns to contain the coronavirus. Both Republicans and Democrats agree that massive government support is needed. Congress is expected to pass an economic stimulus package worth $2 trillion, but they are split on where the money should go. Corporate bailouts or worker protections? Trump and Congressional Republicans are for corporate bailouts. They want a $500 billion slush fund that would give the president unprecedented power to bail out his favorite corporations, with no limits to how firms could use the money and no protections for their workers from layoffs. The bill earmarks $50 billion for airlines, $10 billion for airports, and $3 billion for the petroleum reserve. Trump could even direct cash to his own hotels—and won’t deny he has plans to do so. We must stop this nefarious attempt to exploit the crisis for the benefit of corporations at the expense of the American people. We must block any action in Congress that would increase inequality or make us more vulnerable to future disasters. As we act to address the current pandemic, we must prepare for additional climate-fueled crises, as the severity and frequency of storms, fires and droughts continues to ramp up. Bernie’s plan is aligned with the “5 Principles for Just COVID-19 Relief and Stimulus,” as put forward by over 300 environmental, justice, labor, and movement organizations: (1) Health is the top priority, for all people, with no exceptions; (2) Provide economic relief directly to the people; (3) Rescue workers and communities, not corporate executives; (4) Make a down payment on a regenerative economy, while preventing future crises; and, (5) Protect our democratic process while protecting each other.

Landlords across Houston are refusing to respond to their tenants’ pleas and/or offering zero abatement options and imposing late fees with talks of tenants defaulting. We are speaking on behalf of dozens of small business owners in Houston. Many of us ARE NOT in the food and beverage industry and were ordered to completely shut down by Governor Abbott on March 19. We do not have take-out options for our clientele and are generating zero income. We have wholly contributed to these properties in improvement and continuously paid taxes on properties we do not own. There has been zero substantial ruling on commercial tenants - small business owners - and we've spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on the improvement and build-out of our landlords properties. We've also paid our proportionate share of their property taxes for the duration of our leases. PLEASE SIGN because without legislature, thousands of small businesses in Houston will close.

Veterinary professionals across the country — from veterinary technicians and veterinarians to other staff critical to animal hospital operations — are on the frontline in helping our communities and pets feel safe and supported as we all grapple with the effects of COVID-19. These essential professionals deserve to be safe on the job and adequately compensated for their efforts to keep our pets safe and healthy during this pandemic. In this time of crisis, too many of our essential workers have been subject to unsafe and unsanitary working conditions, inadequate pay, and inflexible leave policies that put their personal health and safety, as well as the health and safety of the greater community at risk. When veterinary staff are put in harm’s way, so are our country’s pets. --- Hazard pay of at least 20 percent over base hourly wage to compensate for the increased risks these workers face due to COVID-19 --- Adequate safety protections, including necessary equipment such as masks, gloves, and sanitizer to keep both workers and clients safe and minimize community transmission --- Safety subcommittees at all hospitals that can quickly adjust hospital policies and protocols to match current CDC-recommended practices. These committees should be made up of representatives of both workers and management. --- At least two weeks of additional paid leave to ensure that workers can appropriately respond to the COVID-19 risk to themselves and their families. Workers should not be forced to use already allocated PTO. In this time of uncertainty and stress, our veterinary workers continue to show up at work every day and care for our country’s pets. All essential workers deserve to be adequately compensated for helping to keep our communities safe, and veterinary professionals are no different. #essentialpetcare #thereforpets

Many of us are the only providers for our families. Many of us are sole-proprietors and can’t even qualify for unemployment benefits. We have to furnish our own medical insurance, and if we can not run our business we cannot pay for our medical expenses either. We are in the worst possible situation here. Madam Speaker, we are so proud of what you are trying to do for America. Please, do not leave small businesses in the lurch. When all of this is over who will cut your hair, who will launder your clothes, who will treat your aches and pains and soothe your worries? People like us. Please, remember us when you are fighting for the Disaster Relief measures on the house floor and in Senate.

On Friday, President Bollinger announced that all classes will now be graded on a Pass/Fail only basis. With the moving of classes to an online format, this represents a further decline in the quality of education. Given that students have paid nearly $30,000 for tuition this semester, it is unfair that they continue to pay this cost while receiving a level of education that is clearly inferior to that for which they paid. Online classes simply do not offer the same quality of instruction as in-person classes, and students no longer have access to the amenities that their tuition is supposed to fund, such as library and computer lab access, engineering equipment, and more. The mandatory pass-fail further means that students will be paying for tuition without any impact whatsoever on their GPA, which is another undue burden created by the university's policies. Moreover, a significant portion of students' tuition is the student life fee, which pays for amenities that students no longer have access to such as Dodge Fitness Center. With the closing of these spaces and the cancellation of student events such as commencement and senior activities, it is unfair that Columbia continues to hold on to this money despite not being able to provide students these services for which they have already paid. Finally, the pandemic that necessitated these measures has also thrown the U.S economy into a severe recession. Many students are facing severe financial hardship as a result of losing their jobs or their family losing their jobs. In fact, many students depend on their jobs to pay for their tuition. Ultimately, it is only fair that as Columbia recoups expenses from cancelling student events and closing campus spaces, that some of this money be refunded to the students whose tuition paid for it in the first place. Please sign this petition and tell the administration of Columbia University to refund Spring 2020 tuition to all students.

We are in a pandemic crisis and the state could have desperately used that money for ventilators, healthcare resources and costs and for relief to the many citizens impacted by our state economy stalled and even collapsing.

It is important because I have personally witness what my daughter and so many other students have experienced in Athens, GA., where the University of Georgia is located. Because the housing regulations are so lenient in Georgia, the management companies take advantage of student/tenants. In the past, I have notified the Congressman, Jody Hice, but my email was ignored with responses to support his office.

I believe that this would work as an incentive for Congress to pass a reasonable bill to assist Americans who are struggling in the wake of this pandemic. Prioritizing American citizens over corporate bailouts would help to increase the faith lost by the US Federal Government.

As a group, the working class of Stockton have been financially devastated by the critical and necessary measures put in place to slow the spread of COVID-19. Though the federal or state government may eventually provide relief, the immediate conservation of our limited financial resources is necessary for our own and our family's health and well-being. Rentors, Leasors, banks and other relevant institutions can, as a class, seek their own relief; the state and federal government is much more responsive and historically more likely to act on their behalf. We must protect our limited cash flow immediately. What happens in May when I owe 2 months rent? Or June when I owe 3? I won't be evicted now because they don't want me on the streets but will they evict me then? The rent needs to be forgiven while I CANT WORK. What happens when the businesses who can't reopen fail and millions are looking for work? Rent and Mortgage moratorium (no rent or mortgage collection), forgiveness (you will never owe it), deferment (interest or payments are frozen and moved forward) are absolutely necessary to our current health and well being, and our economic future.

President Trump has refused to commit to rejecting bailout funds for his personal business. For the President or any member of Congress to receive taxpayer corporate bailout funds would be corruption of the highest order. Any bailout bill put forth and signed my Congress and the President for victims of the Covid-19 outbreak must exclude Trump Corp and any other business owned by the President, Vice-President, Cabinet Members and any member of US Congress.

We, as Nevada Property Rights Alliance (NPRA), have been calling on municipalities and state lawmakers to get the rules preventing property owners from enjoying their constitutional rights for more than a year now in anticipation of another recession coming to our state inevitably. However, we did not expect this will be needed so much sooner. Due to the coronavirus epidemic, this requires immediate attention and action and will help everyone involved - those who are sharing their homes and those who need a furnished place to stay now.  Governor Sisolak, we are awaiting your leadership on this issue this week as soon as possible. It's time for an Emergency Declaration. Meanwhile, we hope Mayors and City Councils take immediate action if they understand the urgency of this and do not wait on the Governor to act. Your fellow Nevadans in need of decisive leadership, Nevada Property Rights Alliance

Tens of millions of people now face the choice between rent or food. Working class poor people who become unemployed do not and will not in the future have money for rent and back rent. What small resources they have must be freed for food purchases to both protect them from starvation and also to protect the food supply chain. This will also create solidarity, as we temporarily offer aid to landlords by freeing them from their mortgage obligations and we free the renting class from the facing a choice between starvation or later evictions. We must begin to help each other in ways we haven't thought of before by chosing to protect collective interests over the interests of individual groups. This is a matter of survival and maintaining civil society.