Across the state, Marylanders have made significant sacrifices in the face of the COVID-19 global pandemic. As public employees, health care professionals, and education professionals, you know how vital and essential the public sector is to Maryland. That’s why NOW is the time for the federal government to invest in America and not forfeit the future. The HEROES Act (Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act, HR 6800), does just that. Maryland would receive $9.6 billion in direct aid to states and $5.6 in direct aid to local governments if the Senate passes the HEROES Act.
This would mean $330M to Baltimore city and more than $465M to Baltimore county.
These vital investments in state and local aid will provide for public safety officers, teachers and school workers, sanitation workers, home-care providers, as well as state, county, and municipal frontline public service workers who are essential to fighting this pandemic and reopening our economy. They have been there for us, and they are a critical part of our recovery, as well as keeping our communities safe and livable.
Reopening schools and colleges and keeping students and staff safe will take more, not fewer resources, especially as students will return to school with significant and academic, social, and emotional needs. Maryland would receive $1.4 billion in education funding if the Senate passes the HEROES Act. The K-12 portion of these funds would provide Maryland $898.4 million. That’s enough to save or restore the positions of 4,122 teachers, 746 teacher aides and 3,006 other workers.
Here’s how you can help:
Click here to write to your Senators, to let them know Maryland public employees demand passage of the HEROES Act.
You can even call your Senators (click here to be connected). You can also dial the AFT Congressional Hotline at 1-833-868-8109 to connect to your members of Congress. Ask them to support the HEROES Act.
If you call, be sure to remind them:
- If we see massive layoffs because we don’t get state and local aid, there will be extreme cuts to public services with catastrophic effects. Entire communities will suffer both from a public health and economic perspective.
- We can’t fight this pandemic or reopen the economy without strong public services and public service workers to deliver critical services.
- We continue to put our lives on the line every day to serve our communities. We do it because we love our jobs and care about helping people, and I don’t think anyone believes we deserve to be laid off.
- We know you support the legislation, but we want to express to you just how important it is for all Maryland residents that this legislation passes.
2020-05-28