FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 11, 2020
CONTACTS:
Juan Carlos Cerda | jccerda@americanbic.biz | (214) 482-8698
Rebecca Shi | rshi@americanbic.biz | (312) 576-8032
ABIC Applauds House Problem Solvers Caucus for Including Stimulus Checks for Mixed Status Families in Latest COVID Relief Proposal
(Chicago, IL) – This morning, the House Problem Solvers Caucus, a group of 50 House lawmakers made up of 25 Republicans and 25 Democrats, announced a bipartisan coronavirus relief plan that includes $1,200 stimulus payments for mixed-status families.
In a press conference hosted by the Caucus, Representative Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) stated, “We support additional direct stimulus checks to the American people, $1,200 again for adults, $500 for dependent children and adults. With a fix for those who were previously left out, including families with mixed US citizen- non citizen status. Recognizing that part of the fold in providing the direct checks to ensure that people can make it through this tough time.”
The announcement comes on the same day a diverse group of organizations including the American Business Immigration Coalition, National Immigrant Law Center, CHIRLA, SEIU, FIRM, and others released a video calling on Senate leaders to support a comprehensive federal relief package that includes the mixed-status and immigrant families who have been hit hardest by the pandemic, but were left out of previous proposals.
ABIC applauds the House Problem Solvers Caucus for supporting U.S. citizens who were unfairly left out of critical relief, including Lacey Chontal, a citizen and VA employee who did not receive a $1,200 stimulus check because her spouse provided an ITIN on their joint tax returns. Lacey represents just one of 1.7 million U.S. citizens who were left behind by a discriminatory provision in the CARES Act, and who would benefit from the American Citizen Coronavirus Relief Act, a bill introduced by Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) that aims to eliminate the GOP marriage penalty on mixed-status families but that was not included in the Senate relief proposal released by Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) in July.
ABIC calls on the leadership from both parties to put partisan gamesmanship aside and come together in support of a COVID relief package that will support American families and small businesses from all walks of life, and put our nation on the path to recovery.
The American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC) promotes commonsense immigration reform that advances economic competitiveness, provides companies with both the high-skilled and low-skilled talent they need, and allows the integration of immigrants into our economy as consumers, workers, entrepreneurs, and citizens.