The HEROES Act

How we can help pass this important legislation

The $600 weekly payments from the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation
program are scheduled to end “on or before July 31, 2020.”

July 31 falls on a Friday this year, which is a problem because states typically pay out
unemployment benefits on a weekly cycle that ends on Saturday or Sunday. (In
Nevada it is Saturday.)

Because of the wording of the CARES Act, that means states will end the $600
payments on July 25 or 26, rather than the very last day of the month, which falls on a
Friday. Since our benefit week ends after the July 31 cutoff, the $600 cannot apply to
that week.

What this means, is that we will NOT be receiving $600 for the period of July 26- Aug 1,
or thereafter.

The House passed a bill (HEROES Act) in May 2020 that would extend the enhanced
$600 benefit through January 2021 and provide another stimulus check to households.
That bill is awaiting action in the Senate but not expected to pass in the Senate in its
current form. The Senate has so far not unveiled a new stimulus bill, nor any plan to
amend or introduce a new bill, which would then require House approval.

The Senate comes back from recess on July 20 and plans another recess Aug 7.
During the time they are in session, it is fully expected that pressure will be mounting to
force Senate Leader McConnell to bring the HEROES Act to the floor for debate.
Unless a new bipartisan agreement is reached, additional Federal benefits will end July
25, 2020.

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Join the fight by sending a letter to your representatives and signing the petition today.

You will find our "Activists Cheat Sheet" and contact info for your representatives below.

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The Activists Cheat Sheet

Have these talking points handy when you call or write to your representative.
Remember to be firm but polite and represent The 363 with pride.

Who we are

State your case as to why we are an important workforce that needs to be protected.

•  The entertainment industry evaporated in mid-March. We were the first to go, and will be the last to return to work, as we require the safe gathering of large groups.

• This includes touring concerts and productions, Broadway shows, casino production shows, film/tv, nightclubs, conventions.

• We are a skilled workforce of technicians and artists.

Return to work

• We insist that the federal government provide direct economic support for organizations in the arts, entertainment, and media industries with appropriate workforce restoration requirements to get people back to work when it is safe to do so.

Unemployment

• We insist that the federal government extend the CARES Act unemployment insurance provisions for as long as the health crisis persists, at it's current minimum wage levels of $600.00 /Wk

• Make sure we workers have access to COVID-19 relief by having States ramp up and improve their unemployment claim processing. It's a mess here.

• Extend the Cares act unemployment gig worker (independent contractor) provisions for as long as the health crisis persists and the industry is unable to fully function.

Labor

• Allow all nonprofits fair access to the government economic support in the Paycheck Protection Program – including labor unions

Healthcare

• Ensure that no-one loses their benefits by passing a 100 percent COBRA premium subsidy to keep families insured on their job-based healthcare plan and extend eligibility to 36 months.

Safety

• Support OSHA regulation to require proper PPE in this epidemic environment within the workplace.

Something Personal

• Add something personal to help drive the message home.

Who to contact

Your Representatives

Vote!

Below you will find links to register to vote and a list of candidates endorsed by The Northern Nevada Central Labor Council.