Washington, D.C. — In response to the House Democrats’ proposed HEROES Act, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) issued the following statement from Vice President of Government Affairs Sara Chieffo:

“We commend House Democrats for prioritizing relief for the communities of color, low-income communities, immigrant communities, and Indigenous communities suffering the most from the coronavirus pandemic.

“This package would provide much needed funding to state and local governments, tribes, and territories to maintain the essential services they provide and additional funding to support transit. Critically, this bill includes a moratorium on all utility disconnects and mandates safe reconnections as well as assistance to ensure no household loses water service due to inability to pay. We’re glad to see an additional $3.6 billion in dedicated election assistance funding to help states ensure every eligible voter has safe access to the ballot during the pandemic. We also commend the inclusion of environmental justice grants to understand the links between pollution exposure and impacts of COVID-19 in environmental justice communities and provisions protecting frontline workers, including requiring the Occupational Safety and Health Administration set an emergency standard. The additional support provided for the Postal Service is important for ensuring the safety of postal workers on the front lines, and so all communities are counted during this year’s Census.

“Going forward, Congress should ensure there are no bailouts for fossil fuel companies and prioritize investments in infrastructure and clean energy that build cleaner, more resilient and equitable communities, protect public health, ensure all communities can access safe parks and other green spaces, and create good, high-quality jobs and a stronger, more sustainable economy.”

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