House Democrats passed the HEROES Act back in May as their opening bid in the next round of COVID-19 congressional relief. The title is short for Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act. Senate Republicans countered this week with the HEALS Act, short for Health, Economic Assistance, Liability Protection and Schools Act.
READ MORE from Heroes or Healers – We Need #Relief4Charities
This week marks the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in employment, education and public accommodations.
Goodwill Industries International (GII) is proud to be a founding partner of the #Relief4Chairities coalition, which came together with a united front early on during the pandemic.
As lawmakers and staff are negotiating the details for the next COVID-19 relief package, Goodwill® and other nonprofits are teaming up for a #Relief4Charities Week of Action during the week of July 13.
Though it is frequently cited as a top priority for lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, actually enacting a comprehensive plan to fix the nation’s crumbling infrastructure can sometimes seem like the elusive hope of an “infrastructure week” that has come and gone.
The pandemic and the economic downturn have severely damaged charitable giving in America. Despite a few bright spots and big headlines, the latest data shows a troubling decline in donations this year, with an 11 percent drop in March alone — a trend that would lead to $25 billion in lost revenue for nonprofits like Goodwill®.
Office closures and social distancing has not stopped Congress from their ability to conduct their business, and it should not prevent advocates from engaging with lawmakers and staff. In fact, it’s more important now that constituents be able to contact elected officials and share the impact that the pandemic is having on individuals, families, communities and employers.
Since shortly after the pandemic began, a group of charitable nonprofits (including Goodwill®), recognized that many organizations will be in need of various forms of federal relief as they continue to provide critical services at a time when they had to cancel fundraisers, close businesses that provide mission revenue, and face delays in contract payments among other struggles. Hundreds of organizations have since joined the effort seeking #Relief4Charities.
READ MORE from Congress is Holding Hearings, But Are They Listening?
For more than a century, we at Goodwill® have prided ourselves in our work and our mission to help people with perceived barriers to employment overcome their challenges and gain employment. We now need to challenge ourselves as a human service provider to not only help people who have struggled to find employment, but to actively work to remove systemic and institutional racism and other barriers that prevent people from having equal opportunities in the first place.
This week began with many observing service members on Memorial Day who gave the ultimate sacrifice while defending our country. A few days later, we mourned the passing of more than 100,000 lives lost in America’s battle against COVID-19. These were disproportionately people of color, older Americans and people with pre-existing medical conditions — and they were so much more than a statistic.
READ MORE from House Committee Examines Sobering COVID-19 Statistics
On Tuesday, May 19, the American Workforce Policy Advisory Board held a virtual meeting to discuss strategies for supporting workers who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Comprised of leaders from industry, higher education, government and nonprofit organizations, the board advises the Administration on workforce development policy and work to promote career education and job training opportunities.
READ MORE from White House Policy Board Tackles COVID-19 Workforce Recovery
Another week has gone by and another 3 million individuals have filed for unemployment, bringing the total number of unemployed to more than 36 million over the last two months. What started as a public health crisis became an economic crisis and morphed into an employment crisis. Lawmakers play a significant role as well, which is why Goodwill Industries International continues to join 450 other charitable nonprofits in asking Congress to provide #Relief4Charities.
READ MORE from Urge Congress to Support Nonprofits in the Next COVID-19 Relief Package
