The U.S. Congress passed the Coronavirus Aids, Relief and Economic Stimulus (CARES) Act on March 27, 2020 to provide relief to some Americans during the Coronavirus COVID-19 National Disaster. However, the promised economic relief from CARES will take weeks, even months, for millions of Americans to receive, if at all.  Even with a freeze on payments offered by some debt-holders, once this COVID-19 allows us to return to a sense of normalcy, those bills will be due immediately. If Americans have not been able to work in several months, they cannot be expected to take on this new debt.

Businesses are closed across the U.S., with nearly all of the states on mandatory shelter-in-place orders including Georgia. As of this writing, over 6.5 million Americans had filed for unemployment. Georgia has a minimum wage of $5.15, with the federal minimum wage of $7.25. A basic two-bedroom apartment in metro-Atlanta requires a minimum wage of $17. Many of our constituents in Georgia are working several jobs just to pay rent. For these workers — as well as small businesses, sole proprietors and independent contractors — one to three months of living expenses is just not saved for a rainy day.

It is true ‘we are all in this together’ as the U.S. national mantra proclaims right now. These are unprecedented times. While worried about staying health, a loss of income and bills that are due, Georgia constituents should have relief for rent, mortgages, car loans and utilities during the disaster.

On behalf of Georgia constituents, we are asking Governor Brian Kemp to immediately authorize a Georgia Coronavirus COVID-19 Debt Relief initiative through the existing Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency's Individuals and Households Program with a $1,500/month per qualified household for April, May and June 2020. Here is a link to the entire proposal with details.

While I am petitioning for Georgia, constituents in every state should be provided with the Coronavirus COVID-19 Debt Relief through the existing, federally-funded State Emergency Management Agencies.