• Home
  • Diocese
  • Bishop Burns
  • Synod
  • Columnists
  • Revista Catolica
  • Vatican
  • Subscribe
The Texas Catholic
The Texas Catholic

Dallas, Texas

Today is Tuesday, May 30, 2023
  • Home
  • Diocese
  • Bishop Burns
  • Synod
  • Columnists
  • Revista Catolica
  • Vatican
  • Subscribe
  • Follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Linkedin
    • Instagram
Home
Nation

USCCB urges Congress, White House to reach COVID-19 relief deal

Tuesday, September 8, 2020

The U.S. Capitol is seen in Washington in this file photo. Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, Okla., chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, issued a statement Sept. 8, 2020, calling on lawmakers in Congress and the White House to reach a deal on the next COVID relief package that meets the urgent needs of the nation. (CNS photo/Tyler Orsburn)

By Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON — A leader with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has urged Congress and the White House Sept. 8 to reach a deal on the next COVID-19 relief package that meets the urgent needs of the nation.

“Earlier this year, the leaders of our government reached a bipartisan deal that provided significant relief to those suffering from the health and economic crises that we continue to experience. Many of the good relief measures in that previous package are running out,” said Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development.

In a statement, the archbishop stressed that “families and individuals are having trouble affording food, housing and health care, and hunger-related crises grow internationally.”

He also pointed out that many private schools must choose between reopening and permanent closure and require additional assistance to safely reopen.

“Hospitals are bracing for a spike of cases in the fall and continue to experience fewer preventative and elective health visits,” he said, while coronavirus cases are “spiking in detention centers, prisons and jails.”

He noted that many businesses and charities “are suffering dire hardship again” and that states, cities and towns “face shortfalls providing essential services.”

“Today, I ask our leaders in Washington to once again set aside their differences in order to reach an agreement that prioritizes the poor and vulnerable,” he stressed, adding that he and other Catholic bishops have written to congressional leaders multiple times with “specific recommendations on how to meet the needs of this moment.”

“It is imperative to act soon. May God grant all those participating in negotiations a heart that eagerly responds to the cry of the poor,” he said.

On Sept. 8, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, said the Senate would vote on a scaled-back Republican coronavirus relief package within days, but he said it was not likely to pass while the Democrats are seeking more aid.

The Associated Press reported that McConnell described the relief package as not containing “every idea our party likes” and also being far less than what Democrats are seeking.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, said the bill “doesn’t come close to addressing the problems and is headed nowhere.”

As it stands now, McConnell’s bill would provide $105 billion to help schools reopen, provide a shield against lawsuits for businesses and others that are trying to reopen, create a scaled-back $300-per-week supplemental jobless benefit and write off $10 billion in previous debt from the U.S. Postal Service.

The bill also includes $31 billion for a coronavirus vaccine, $16 billion for virus testing, $15 billion to help child care providers reopen and an additional $20 billion for farmers. It also includes a school choice initiative that would provide a tax break for those who donate to nonprofit organizations offering private school scholarships.

The Republican aid package would also provide $258 billion for a second round of “paycheck protection” subsidies for businesses that have been especially hard-hit by the pandemic.

Democrats are seeking a relief package of more than $2.2 trillion and AP has reported that although President Donald Trump’s negotiators have shown the possibility of giving more aid, a significant gap remains between what the Democrats want and how much the administration is willing to give.

  • Tags
  • COVID-19
  • Faith
  • USCCB
Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest
Next article Virtual pilgrimage, concrete donation: Holy Land Catholics ask for help
Previous article Father Esposito: The relationship between laughter and grace

Related Posts

Knights' film on chaplain's faith, heroism traces how his remains were returned home 70 years after his death Nation
Sunday, May 28, 2023

Knights' film on chaplain's faith, heroism traces how his remains were returned home 70 years after his death

Fifty years later, N.Y. priest still draws on Vietnam combat experience to minister to others Nation
Friday, May 26, 2023

Fifty years later, N.Y. priest still draws on Vietnam combat experience to minister to others

Uvalde Catholic community marks painful anniversary with Mass, prayers Nation
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Uvalde Catholic community marks painful anniversary with Mass, prayers

Texas Catholic Classics

A look at the five Dallas law enforcement officers who gave their lives while protecting citizens during a mass shooting in downtown Dallas in July 2016.

 

How a child with special needs inspired a high school volleyball team, community and a family who heeded God’s call to protect life.

 

After a young runner collapsed at a Dallas marathon, grace and providence unfolded for those involved in the valiant effort to help her.

   

In the summer of 2016, 50 students and 25 chaperones from Dallas Catholic high schools traveled to Nicaragua for a 10-day mission trip.

 

Early on a November morning, Kenndrick Mendieta bounded from the gym at Cristo Rey Dallas College Prep toward the campus’ athletic fields as clouds lifted on a fresh new day.

 

Subscribe

Get the award-winning Texas Catholic delivered to your door. Use the menu below to subscribe now.


Subscription length




 

Photo Gallery

Click here to find your favorite Texas Catholic photographs.

The Texas Catholic Newspaper

Catholic Diocese of Dallas
Michael Gresham, Editor

3725 Blackburn Street
Dallas, Texas 75219
(214) 379-2800

Our Affiliated Sites

Texas Catholic Youth

Revista Católica

Legal and Other

Contact us

Terms of service

Privacy policy

Site map

Site powered by TexasCatholicMedia

© 2013-2019 The Texas Catholic Publishing Company. All rights reserved.