As health crisis worsens, Senate Republicans focus covid relief on polluting corporations

WASHINGTON – Mitch McConnell released the latest stimulus package for COVID-19 relief in the Senate today.

The stimulus legislation shields corporations from coronavirus-related legal liabilities, something polluting industries have been lobbying heavily for in recent months.

Michelle Chan, vice president of programs at Friends of the Earth, issued the following statement in response:

Mitch McConnell and the Senate Republicans are more concerned with appeasing Trump than saving lives. Over 145,000 people have died from coronavirus and that number will continue to climb, while Trump’s GOP scrambles to protect their corporate donors from liability. The Republicans’ deliberate choice to put corporations over people has never been clearer or more devastating. 

Polluting industries like Big Oil and Big Ag don’t deserve legal protections if their actions sicken or kill their employees. Instead of sidelining health experts and giving polluting corporations billion-dollar bailouts, Congress must ensure everyone has healthcare and income to get through the crisis.

Contact: Erin Jensen, (202) 222-0722, [email protected]