U.S. House Democrats passed a fifth coronavirus rescue bill out of the U.S. House last week. However, U.S. Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell doesn’t feel the bill is urgent, and does not plan to take it up until after the Memorial weekend break, if at all. There may be a lot of uncertainty about COVID-19 and the future, but I know for certain that a fifth coronavirus bill is urgent. With the U.S. unemployment rate at 14.7%, the worst since the Depression era, and with nearly 2 million Texans filling for unemployment, I can tell you for certain the need is urgent. That is why I applaud the Harris County Commissioners Court for recognizing that urgency and approving $30 million for the COVID-19 relief fund on Tuesday.

The bill passed by House Democrats also directs an additional $75 billion for coronavirus testing and contact tracing. This is vitally important to restarting our economy. President Trump, Governor Abbott, and other Republican state leaders can prematurely lift restrictions all they want, but the economy won’t get on track until people feel safe to go back to work and out again. That is why we need this bill to pass. With more testing and contact tracing we can give people confidence that we can beat this. Additionally, the bill would require masks on airplanes and mass transit. Without proper and robust safety precautions, testing, and tracing infrastructure the economy won't recover

The bill also includes another round of stimulus checks which will be needed because, the Texas Supreme Court allowed evictions to begin again this Tuesday the 19th. is This is another reason why many renters need a second round of stimulus checks, as proposed in the House Democrats' bill. Millions used the first round of stimulus checks to help pay their rent. A second round of stimulus checks will help people stay in their homes and not in homeless shelters, which have become hotspots for the spread of COVID-19.

Additionally, the $600 weekly increase in unemployment insurance from the federal government is set to expire on July 31st. This increase in unemployment benefits has been a life-line to millions of workers and families that would not be able to continue to feed and educate their children without it. Unfortunately, it may take some time for us to get all the way back to normal, and there are legitimate fears of a second wave when flu season begins again next fall. That is why the bill passed by House Democrats includes extending the $600 weekly increase to January 2021. Regrettably, Republican leadership in D.C. including President Trump opposes this provision.

Facing President Trump’s opposition this key provision has little chance of passing, which brings me to my next point. We need better leadership at the top. The way we get there is by electing a new president in November. This November there will almost certainly be more mail ballots than ever before, because of the fear of contracting and spreading COVID-19. On Tuesday, a Federal judge ruled that all Texans can apply to vote by mail during the pandemic. However, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton—who has a history of trying to suppress the vote—appealed the decision, and the 5th Circuit put a hold on the lower court’s decision on Wednesday. But, similar actions are being taken all over the country, and in states where leadership actively tries to encourage voting, more mail ballots will be available. For mail in ballots to work efficiently, we need a strong U.S. Postal System to make sure everyone has access to their ballot. That is one of many reasons why the bill passed by U.S. House Democrats includes $25 billion in funding for the U.S. Postal Service. Addition to mail ballots, USPS is playing a vital role in our lives during this pandemic by helping all Americans get the medicines and the supplies they need delivered to them.

The bill also provides for a $200 billion “Heroes Fund” to extend hazard pay to essential workers, and $3 billion to increase mental health support. This important legislation is now in the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate and I hope they look beyond the partisan divide and realize that this legislation is needed as we work together to fight this pandemic.