More than 36 million Americans have filed for unemployment so far during the pandemic and unemployment rates are currently the highest on record. Additionally, workplaces, particularly meatpacking plants, have become hotspots for the virus and states are expressing need for additional federal help to fight the crisis.

The BlueGreen Alliance released the following statement from Executive Director Jason Walsh:

“This is not a ‘wait and see’ moment. While Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans waste time trying to shield negligent employers from their responsibility for protecting workers from illness and death on the job, tens of thousands of Americans have died and tens of millions are unemployed. The Senate must act immediately to pass to a robust relief package that will provide funding for state and local governments to support relief efforts, require the Occupational Safety and Health and Administration and the Mine Safety and Health Administration to issue enforceable rules to protect workers during the crisis, and provide other critical support for workers and communities.

“It doesn’t get more urgent than this. Lives are on the line.”