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Critics Say GOP Education Reform Would Hurt Poor and Black Students

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Wade Henderson, president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, said that a strong ESEA is vital to ensuring that states and school districts are living up to their obligation to provide a quality education for all. (Freddie Allen/NNPA/File Photo)

Wade Henderson, president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, said that a strong ESEA is vital to ensuring that states and school districts are living up to their obligation to provide a quality education for all. (Freddie Allen/NNPA/File Photo)

 

By Freddie Allen
Senior Washington Correspondent

WASHINGTON (NNPA) – As the Republican-led Congress prepares to update the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), civil rights groups, educators and student advocates fear that current proposals leave many poor and Black children behind.

According to analysis by the Center for American Progress (CAP), a Washington, D.C.–based progressive think tank, the bill submitted by Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), eliminates accountability for low-performing schools, lowers academic standards, and abolishes targeted, state-level graduation goals for students of color.

A White House brief on the ESEA reauthorization bills said that the proposal being considered in the House of Representatives will cap spending on the ESEA for the next six years at $800 million lower than it was in 2012, eliminates “guarantees that education funding reaches classroom,” and “some especially high-poverty school districts would see cuts as large as 74 percent.”

In her weekly column, Marian Wright Edelman, president of the Children’s Defense Fund, said no ESEA bill would be better than the one now making its way through Congress.

She wrote, “H.R. 5 also removes strong accountability provisions required to make sure the children who need help most will actually be helped. It is morally indefensible and extraordinarily expensive that we have 14.7 million poor children in our country – 6.5 million of them living at less than half the poverty level. All of these poor children exceed the combined residents in all 50 state capitals and the District of Columbia.”

Wade Henderson, president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a network of more than 200 national research and advocacy groups, said that the ESEA reauthorization proposals currently pending in Congress would strip millions of students and their parents of the protections and resources that have helped them to hold their schools accountable for equitable funding and treatment.

“For the students we represent, students of color, students with disabilities, English language learners and low-income students, a strong ESEA is vital to ensuring that states and school districts are living up to their obligation to provide a quality education for all on an equal basis not just for the most privileged or wealthy,” said Henderson.

On a recent call with reporters, Henderson said that the coalition of 34 national civil rights and education groups supported annual statewide assessments to evaluate student progress, transparency of the test results and additional data that empowers parents to advocate on behalf of their children.

Chanelle Hardy, the executive director and senior vice president for policy at the National Urban League, said that the legacy of the Black community’s commitment to education stems from the days of slavery when Blacks learned to read in secret and at risk to their own lives.

“This is not a conversation about how we need to convince our community to care about achievement,” said Hardy. “This is about our nation’s commitment to a system of education that prepares every child for college work and life. This is a fundamental civil rights principle and a fundamental principle of justice.”

William Hayes, the principal at Franklin D. Roosevelt Academy in the Glenville community of Cleveland, Ohio, also expressed concerns about the Republican proposals for reforming the ESEA, which was last updated more than a decade ago through the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) under President George W. Bush.

“This vote is about equity and accountability, yet everyday my students face the brutal reality that they live in a society that has not achieved its promise for a more equitable distribution of outcomes and opportunities,” said Hayes.

Hayes said that 98 percent of the students at his school are African American, 100 percent qualify for free lunch and 28 percent receive special education services.

One of Cleveland’s wealthiest subdivisions borders Glenville to the north and the city’s cultural center with museums, botanical gardens and the Cleveland Institute of Music to the south, Hayes said. The Cleveland Clinic, perennially ranked by as one of the best hospitals in the nation, is just a 15-minute walk to the east of Glenville.

“Surrounded by so much prosperity and bright images of the American Dream, my students could easily be forgotten, were it not for our federal government ensuring that communities remain accountable,” added Hayes.

Hardy said that civil rights groups were extremely concerned about resource equity and ensuring that low-income students at majority-minority schools have access to early childhood education and high quality teachers.

Researchers at CAP found that school districts spent $733 less at schools that were 90 percent minority compared to schools that were 90 percent White. That money could be spent on veteran teachers, school counselors and laptop computers.

“It’s no secret that more than 50 years after Brown our communities and schools are still very much segregated however the concentration of poverty has become more exacerbated as affluent families of color have left our communities to go elsewhere,” said Hayes.

Nancy Zirkin, the executive vice president of the Leadership Conference, said that no one can deny that NCLB has room for improvement, “but the proposals in front of Congress now throw the baby out with the bath water.”

Zirkin explained, “These proposals bend over backwards to accommodate state and local entities that have both failed our children and avoided any real accountability for their failures.”

NCLB was characterized by high stakes testing that led some school districts to trim physical education and arts programs to make room for more rigorous reading and math course work. Educators railed against “teaching to the test” and questioned the need for multiple assessments throughout the school year.

Hayes said that he wasn’t naïve to the unintended consequences of the “accountability movement” that came with NCLB, including the narrowing of the academic curriculum and the over-testing of students linked to controversial teacher evaluations, but he still didn’t believe the shortcomings of the law warranted a complete hands-off approach from the federal government.

Hayes said he was frustrated at the thought of a federal government willing to step away without stepping back to the table to help to fix NCLB.

Hayes added: “As a school leader I can’t imagine a time where my administrative team could ever see a problem with our students and say to teachers, ‘It didn’t work so I’m just going to let you figure it out by yourselves.’”

But in the eyes of some educators and civil rights leaders that’s exactly what the Republican proposals do.

“We can’t go back to a time when these schools were ignored,” said Zirkin.

Hardy agreed.

“We can’t assume that we have good information on student achievement based on socio-demographic factors,” said Hardy. “We have to do our part with our federal tax dollars to concentrate those resources where they need to be.”

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‘Not Forgotten,’ 26 Missing Children Recovered in U.S. Marshal Operation

NNPA NEWSWIRE — According to a news release from the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Marshals Service Missing Child Unit’s “Operation Not Forgotten” resulted in the rescue of 26 children in Georgia, the safe location of 13 children and the arrest of nine criminal associates.

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The U.S. Marshals Service did not identify the rescued children, but because of their action, the children are safe, and their families are relieved. (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA)
The U.S. Marshals Service did not identify the rescued children, but because of their action, the children are safe, and their families are relieved. (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA)

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

In 2018, the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) launched a series on the plight of missing children of color – focusing primarily on missing Black girls. The series, which continues with regular updates, included the development of partnerships with several organizations that focus on educating the public about missing children across the U.S.

According to a news release from the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Marshals Service Missing Child Unit’s “Operation Not Forgotten” resulted in the rescue of 26 children in Georgia, the safe location of 13 children and the arrest of nine criminal associates.

The U.S. Marshals Service did not identify the rescued children, but because of their action, the children are safe, and their families are relieved.

“These were some of the most at-risk and challenging recovery cases in the area, based on indications of high-risk factors such as victimization of child sex trafficking, child exploitation, sexual abuse, physical abuse, and medical or mental health conditions,” officials noted in the news release.

The operation was completed in conjunction with the U.S. Marshals’ Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, along with Georgia state and local agencies.

Investigators filed 26 arrest warrants and additional charges for allegations including sex trafficking, parental kidnapping, registered sex offender violations, drugs and weapons possession and custodial interference.

“The U.S. Marshals Service is fully committed to assisting federal, state, and local agencies with locating and recovering endangered missing children, in addition to their primary fugitive apprehension mission,” Donald Washington, director of the U.S. Marshals Service, stated in the release.

“The message to missing children and their families is that we will never stop looking for you.”

In 2019, the USMS helped locate 295 missing children after requests for assistance from law enforcement and contributed to the recovery of a missing child in 75 percent of cases received. The news released noted that, of the missing children recovered, 66 percent were recovered within seven days of the USMS assisting with the case.

“When we track down fugitives, it’s a good feeling to know that we’re putting the bad guy behind bars. But that sense of accomplishment is nothing compared to finding a missing child,” Darby Kirby, Chief of the Missing Child Unit, added in the news release.

“It’s hard to put into words what we feel when we rescue a missing child, but I can tell you that this operation has impacted every single one of us out here. We are working to protect them and get them the help they need.”

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Oprah & Ava: ‘Own Spotlight: Culture Connection & August 28th

NNPA NEWSWIRE — The special features Oprah Winfrey as she speaks separately with both acclaimed director Ava DuVernay and Rev. Al Sharpton regarding the historical context of August 28th and the significance of the upcoming election, along with a special presentation of DuVernay’s short film “August 28: A Day in the Life of a People.”

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(Photo: Oprah Winfrey / OWN Network)

By Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., NNPA Newswire Culture and Entertainment Editor

LOS ANGELES – Continuing conversations surrounding issues impacting Black lives, “OWN Spotlight: Culture Connection & August 28th, Ava DuVernay & Rev. Sharpton,” which originally aired Friday, August 28 at 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. ET/PT on OWN, will stream for free on the Watch OWN app and the OWN Facebook and Youtube pages.

The special features Oprah Winfrey as she speaks separately with both acclaimed director Ava DuVernay and Rev. Al Sharpton regarding the historical context of August 28th and the significance of the upcoming election, along with a special presentation of DuVernay’s short film “August 28: A Day in the Life of a People.”

During the special, Winfrey speaks with DuVernay about the work she is doing in support of social justice, how she uses history to inform her activism, and how imperative it is for everyone to vote in the upcoming election. Winfrey later discusses with Rev. Al Sharpton the connection of the ‘Get Off Our Necks’ Commitment March which took place on the same day as the historic March on Washington 57 years ago. Rev. Sharpton shares ways that everyone can show their support in this moment, reiterating his intention for the march is not about numbers but long-term impact.

The interviews bookend DuVernay’s scripted short-film entitled “August 28: A Day in the Life of a People,” starring Lupita Nyong’o, Angela Bassett, Don Cheadle, Regina King, David Oyelowo, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, André Holland, Michael Ealy and Glynn Turman.

DuVernay uses a robust combination of both documentary and narrative techniques to transport viewers through six stunning historical moments that all actually occurred on the same day – August 28th – in various years. Written, produced and directed by DuVernay, “August 28” traverses a century of black progress, protest, passion and perseverance of African American people.

The project gives historical perspective within the creative framework of one date that has had a profound effect on America including: the passing of The Slavery Abolition Act on August 28, 1833, the lynching of Emmett Till on August 28, 1955, the first radio airplay from Motown Records on August 28, 1961 with The Marvelettes “Please Mr Postman,” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech during the massive March on Washington on August 28, 1963, Hurricane Katrina making its tragic landfall on August 28, 2005 and then-Senator Barack Obama’s acceptance of the Democratic nomination for the presidency on August 28, 2008.

The film was lensed by cinematographer Malik Sayeed and edited by Oscar nominee Spencer Averick. Ten-time Grammy nominee Meshell Ndegeocello composed the score. Paul Garnes produced, with co-producers Tilane Jones and Tammy Garnes.

This special is part of OWN’s overall OWN YOUR VOTE initiative, a bipartisan registration and get-out-the-vote campaign partnering with national and local grassroots and voting rights organizations to provide tools and resources that will empower Black women to vote this November. Black women powerfully influence election outcomes, and OWN YOUR VOTE supports this group of voters to show up to the polls and help friends, family, and their community to do the same. Winfrey recently shared that OWN will grant November 3rd as a company holiday to ensure all employees have the time to vote and volunteer. “I challenge other companies to do the same because this might be the most important election of our lives,” Winfrey said in her social post.

“OWN Spotlight: Culture Connection & August 28th, Ava DuVernay & Rev. Sharpton” is produced by OWN. The executive producers are Oprah Winfrey and Tara Montgomery.

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Virginia High School Students Can Now Take Black History Courses

NNPA NEWSWIRE — “Black history is American history, but for too long, the story we have told was insufficient and inadequate,” Gov. Ralph Northam said in a news release. “The introduction of this groundbreaking course is a first step toward our shared goal of ensuring all Virginia students have a fuller, more accurate understanding of our history, and can draw important connections from those past events to our present day.”

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"We can expect young Virginians to understand the enduring impacts of systemic racism only when they fully understand both the oppression experienced by African Americans and their significant contributions to STEM, the arts, education, law, and advocacy," said Virginia Secretary of Education Atif Qarni. (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA)
"We can expect young Virginians to understand the enduring impacts of systemic racism only when they fully understand both the oppression experienced by African Americans and their significant contributions to STEM, the arts, education, law, and advocacy," said Virginia Secretary of Education Atif Qarni. (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA)

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

Virginia students now can take an elective course focusing on African American history, Gov. Ralph Northam said on Thursday, Aug. 28.

The new courses are available in 16 of the state’s school divisions, including in Arlington and Prince William counties.

“Black history is American history, but for too long, the story we have told was insufficient and inadequate,” Gov. Northam said in a news release. “The introduction of this groundbreaking course is a first step toward our shared goal of ensuring all Virginia students have a fuller, more accurate understanding of our history, and can draw important connections from those past events to our present day.”

The full-credit course surveys African American history from precolonial Africa through the present day. It introduces students to African American history concepts, including the trans-Atlantic slave trade, the Civil War, Emancipation, Reconstruction, and the civil rights era.

Students will also learn about African American voices, including many not traditionally highlighted, and their contributions to Virginia and America’s story.

According to the news release, the course is expected to challenge students to explore primary and secondary sources documenting the African American experience.

It includes a capstone project requiring students to conduct independent research on a question or problem of their choosing and demonstrate a deeper understanding of African American history.

“We can expect young Virginians to understand the enduring impacts of systemic racism only when they fully understand both the oppression experienced by African Americans and their significant contributions to STEM, the arts, education, law, and advocacy,” said Virginia Secretary of Education Atif Qarni.

“As a history teacher, I know that this course is long overdue and is a first step toward telling a more inclusive story about the past and how it has shaped the present.”

In 2019, Gov. Northam signed an executive order to establish the Commission on African American History Education.

The Commission was charged with reviewing Virginia’s history standards, and the instructional practices, content, and resources to teach African American history in the Commonwealth.

The inclusion of African American history in high school classes in Virginia comes as protests continue in the aftermath of the police shootings of George Floyd in Minnesota, Jacob Blake in Wisconsin, and many others.

It also comes at a time when professional athletes and entertainers have stood in force behind the Black Lives Matter Movement in a push for social justice and all to understand the history of African Americans.

“The full history of Virginia is complex, contradictory, and often untold – and we must do a better job of making sure that every Virginia graduate enters adult life with an accurate and thorough understanding of our past, and the pivotal role that African Americans have played in building and perfecting our Commonwealth,” Gov. Northam stated.

“The important work of this Commission will help ensure that Virginia’s standards of learning are inclusive of African American history and allow students to engage deeply, drawing connections between historic racial inequities and their continuous influence on our communities today.”

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Rep. Waters Applauds Decision by Six NBA Teams to Boycott Playoff Games Following the Shooting of Jacob Blake

NNPA NEWSWIRE — “These incidents, fueled by white supremacy and racism, have been happening for generations, only to be swept under the rug. It is only through the spotlight being shone upon them by high profile public figures, the tireless work of civil rights advocates, Black elected officials and the increased presence of cell phone video that our country is finally realizing how commonplace it is for Black people to fall victim to police violence.

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Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43), Chair of the House Financial Services Committee (FSC)
Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43), Chair of the House Financial Services Committee (FSC)

LOS ANGELES – Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43), Chair of the House Financial Services Committee (FSC), issued a statement today applauding the players of six NBA teams for deciding to sit out yesterday’s three playoff games following the shooting of Jacob Blake, the Kenosha Wisconsin father who was shot seven times in the back in front of his children by a Kenosha police officer.

“I commend the players of the Milwaukee Bucks, Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trailblazers, Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets for expressing their outrage, frustration and disgust at the violence which continues to be perpetrated by the police upon unarmed African Americans.

“These incidents, fueled by white supremacy and racism, have been happening for generations, only to be swept under the rug. It is only through the spotlight being shone upon them by high profile public figures, the tireless work of civil rights advocates, Black elected officials and the increased presence of cell phone video that our country is finally realizing how commonplace it is for Black people to fall victim to police violence.

“I am especially proud of individuals such as former NBA athlete, now sports analyst, Marques Johnson and Los Angeles Clippers coach ‘Doc’ Rivers who have decided that ‘enough is enough’ and are willing to show America how painful this injustice has been for its Black citizens by expressing their honest emotions of anguish and frustration. I also commend the players of the WNBA’s Washington Mystics, Atlanta Dream, Los Angeles Sparks, Minnesota Lynx, Connecticut Sun and Phoenix Mercury for joining this boycott and not playing their games last night.

“The women athletes of the WNBA have long inspired us by their willingness to stand up to injustice day in and day out. I am hopeful that despite the great challenges we face, 2020 can be a watershed moment for America to finally and truly come to grips with its deeply rooted personal and institutional racism.

“Without shame, Mitch McConnell has buried the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act in his legislative graveyard while Black families bury their loved ones who should still be with us. Instead of banning no-knock warrants and chokeholds that could have prevented the deaths of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and many others, Republicans would rather conduct studies and request data. To them I say: the data is the blood on the street. We don’t need data to validate what we experience. We need action and we need it now.”

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Biden Campaign Launching National “Shop Talk” Series to Engage Black Men

NNPA NEWSWIRE — On Thursday, Aug. 27, Biden’s campaigned announced it would launch a national “Shop Talk” series – a weekly roundtable to engage Black men. The inaugural segment takes place at 7 p.m. EST tonight. It features Biden Campaign Co-Chair Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-La.), actor Terrence J, hip-hop icon Jermaine Dupri, AllHipHop.com CEO Chuck Creekmur, and attorney Bakari Sellers.

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By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

Democratic Presidential Nominee Joe Biden has echoed the sentiments of many who are sickened by the repeated shootings by police of unarmed African Americans.

This week, Biden heaped praise on the Milwaukee Bucks and other National Basketball Association teams who are on the verge of canceling the rest of the season to stand against the violence.

On Thursday, Aug. 27, Biden’s campaigned announced it would launch a national “Shop Talk” series – a weekly roundtable to engage Black men. The inaugural segment takes place at 7 p.m. EST tonight.

It features Biden Campaign Co-Chair Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-La.), actor Terrence J, hip-hop icon Jermaine Dupri, AllHipHop.com CEO Chuck Creekmur, and attorney Bakari Sellers.

“Tonight is real important for Black men to have a conversation about our concerns,” said Dupri. “You can’t possibly be Black and not be bothered by any of this that’s going on. People ask me why I decided to be involved in this panel tonight and I just say that, you can’t be Black and not be bothered by what’s going on in this country and I’m glad the Biden campaign is doing this.”

Gaulien “Gee” Smith, a Wisconsin small business owner, will host the event, and guests will participate in a roundtable focused on issues impacting Black men around the nation.

“For generations, Black-owned Barber shops in this country have always served as a safe space for Black men of all ages to engage in enlightening, entertaining and challenging conversations,” said Richmond. “Although COVID-19 has prevented us from physically hosting Shop Talk at barber shops across America, I’m honored to bring this cherished component of Black boyhood and manhood to the main stage during a time when we must all lean on each other as brothers.”

During the discussion, participants will have an opportunity to hear from Wisconsin residents about the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, and the impact it has had on their communities, said Kamau Marshall, the director of Strategic Communications for the Biden campaign.

“We always strive for authenticity when engaging our key constituency groups by meeting people where they are and facilitating spaces for empowering and forward-looking discussions,” Marshall told NNPA Newswire.

He added that “Shop Talk” counts among the new Biden-Harris coalition programs created for Black men and led by Director of African American Engagement Trey Baker.

“To have that space is an example of how our campaign is bringing like minds together to stand up for the issues they care about the most,” Marshall continued.

“By selecting a state to anchor the conversation each week, we’re confident that these gatherings will energize more Black men to support Joe Biden and Kamala Harris – the candidates that will undoubtedly champion their safety, economic prosperity and physical and mental well-being.”

Following the police shooting of Blake, whose three small sons were inside the vehicle in which cops opened fire, Biden expressed his dismay while also cautioning that violence wasn’t the answer.

“Once again, a Black man – Jacob Blake – was shot by the police. In front of his children,” Biden stressed. “It makes me sick. Is this the country we want to be? Needless violence won’t heal us. We need to end the violence – and peacefully come together to demand justice.”

The Milwaukee Bucks, whose home arena is about 40 miles from Kenosha, decided not to take the court for a playoff game on Wednesday. The team said it’s not a boycott, but a stand against unarmed African Americans’ repeated shootings by law enforcement officers.

The NBA and WNBA decided to cancel games, while some Major League Baseball teams also chose not to play on Wednesday. Both the NBA and WNBA reportedly are on the verge of canceling the rest of their season to show unity with protesters and stand against the epidemic of police shootings of unarmed African Americans.

“This moment demands moral leadership. And these players answered by standing up, speaking out, and using their platform for good. Now is not the time for silence,” Biden said. The Democrat has also called for an immediate, full and transparent investigation.

“The officers must be held accountable,” Biden demanded. “These shots pierce the soul of our nation. Jill and I pray for Jacob’s recovery and for his children.”

Biden continued:

“Equal justice has not been real for Black Americans and so many others. We are at an inflection point. We must dismantle systemic racism. It is the urgent task before us. We must fight to honor the ideals laid in the original American promise, which we are yet to attain: That all men and women are created equal, but more importantly, that they must be treated equally.”

For those wishing to participate, visit visit https://www.mobilize.us/wi2020victory/event/310912/

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Chairwoman Maxine Waters Sounds Alarm on Coming Wave of Evictions

NNPA NEWSWIRE — “We can’t wait any longer we got to move. The CARES Act was an important step towards providing relief, but more help is needed. We knew, for example, that an eviction moratorium without the provision of rental assistance would only delay disastrous outcomes as families would have to pay, more than they could afford, a lump sum of three to four months of unpaid rent at the expiration of the moratorium,” said Waters.

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The resulting economic shutdown has led to over 40 million people filing for unemployment — over 20 percent of the U.S. labor force. (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA)
The resulting economic shutdown has led to over 40 million people filing for unemployment — over 20 percent of the U.S. labor force. (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA)

By Lauren Victoria Burke, NNPA Newswire Contributor

Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), who is the Chairwoman of the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services, is sounding the alarm on what she says will be an eviction crisis in the U.S. after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic, which hit the U.S. in the middle of March, has resulted in over 177,000 deaths and counting. It has also resulted in state and local governments mandating that people stay home and not go to work. As a result of those directives, businesses remained closed for three months with states currently still attempting to re-open in stages. 

Some cities are estimating that thousands will face eviction and/or foreclosure as local governments re-open, unfreezing moratoriums on rents and mortgages and enabling landlord and tenant disputes for non-payment of rent to move forward. Though some Governors have put in place or extended eviction moratoriums others have not, exacerbating outcomes for the millions of Americans facing unemployment.

The U.S. is currently experiencing record days of both new positive coronavirus tests and spikes in cases in Texas, Florida, Georgia and California. As a result, Texas, Florida and California have either delayed planned re-openings or made modifications to their planned staged rollouts.  

According to the most recent reporting from the U.S. Department of Labor, the advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 10.2 percent for the week ending August 8, a decrease of 0.4 percentage point from the previous week’s unrevised rate. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending August 8 was 14,844,000, a decrease of 636,000 from the previous week’s revised level. The previous week’s level was revised down by 6,000 from 15,486,000 to 15,480,000. The 4-week moving average was 15,841,250, a decrease of 326,750 from the previous week’s revised average. The previous week’s average was revised down by 1,500 from 16,169,500 to 16,168,000.

But the resulting economic shutdown has led to over 40 million people filing for unemployment — over 20 percent of the U.S. labor force. On June 29, nearly 60 days ago, Rep. Waters introduced H.R. 7301, the Emergency Housing Protections and Relief Act of 2020.However, typical of the state of play with a U.S. House run by Democrats and a U.S. Senate run by Republicans, Waters’ legislation remains stalled by Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. 

Speaking on the House floor, Waters said, “this bill includes several provisions that were included in the Heroes Act and independently led by a number of Members of the Financial Services Committee. Some people hearing about this bill won’t understand what we are trying to do in this bill today. As I said, this was part of the Heroes Act that passed this House, but we have been waiting on the Senate to take up the Heroes Act. They are not taking it up, they don’t seem to care, they don’t seem to understand that there are people out there who are going to be evicted, and so we have pulled it out of the Heroes Act and we are taking it up independently so that we can send a message to the Senate that we want this measure heard and so we have a number of Members who participated in putting this legislation together and who had independent bills to do so.”

“We can’t wait any longer we got to move. The CARES Act was an important step towards providing relief, but more help is needed. We knew, for example, that an eviction moratorium without the provision of rental assistance would only delay disastrous outcomes as families would have to pay, more than they could afford, a lump sum of three to four months of unpaid rent at the expiration of the moratorium,” said Waters.

The Washington Post reports that despite President Trump’s repeated claims that his administration and executive order would protect people from losing their homes, evictions have continued across the country. “It risks doing more harm than good by giving people a false impression that Trump is doing something to prevent evictions,” said National Low Income Housing Coalition President and CEO Diane Yentel about the president’s executive order.

A push led by Democrats is expected for a second stimulus is underway with bi-partsan agreement to assist small businesses in particular.

Representatives Lacy Clay, Denny Heck, David Scott, Chuy Garcia, Cindy Axne, Nydia Velazquez, Ayanna Pressley, Katie Porter, and Al Green.

Lauren Victoria Burke is an independent journalist for NNPA and the host of the podcast BURKEFILE. She is also a political strategist as Principal of Win Digital Media LLC. She may be contacted at LBurke007@gmail.com and on twitter at @LVBurke

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