House Passes Another Coronavirus Stimulus Package

The House of Representatives passed a $2.2 million coronavirus stimulus plan Thursday as Democrats and Republicans continue to spar over how much a second package should cost.

The bill was approved in a 214-207 vote. Eighteen Democrats voted against the bill as lawmakers in competitive districts are being cautious with the election so close.

According to CNBC, the bill would reinstate the $600 federal unemployment benefit through the year; send a second $1,200 direct payment to most Americans; provide $436 billion in relief over one year to state and local governments; authorize another round of Paycheck Protection Program funding, and inject $75 billion into coronavirus testing and contact tracing efforts, $225 billion into education, and $57 billion into child care, among other measures.

The bill has no chance to make it to a vote in the Senate. Senate Republicans have been steadfast on a relief package that costs no more than $1.5 trillion.

The Thursday vote came following another round of failed negotiations between the Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. Although the pair are committed to continuing negotiations, the two are still far apart on a range of issues including how much aid to send state and local governments and whether to establish a liability shield for businesses and schools.

The coronavirus pandemic has killed more than 200,000 people in the U.S., sent millions to unemployment, and has bankrupted businesses at an unprecedented rate. Not even the president could avoid it as Donald Trump announced early Friday morning he and the first lady have contracted the coronavirus.

With negotiations at an impasse, it’s more than likely a second coronavirus stimulus package will not be passed before the election, which could have an effect on it. It’s also unclear which side will budge first. Democrats believe the money is necessary to keep the economy from falling apart as the coronavirus continues to have an effect on the economy.

Meanwhile, Republicans are worried about spending too much money and providing benefits that keep Americans from going back to work.

The coronavirus pandemic has led to billions in lost revenue and large corporations have announced significant layoffs are coming within days without help from the government. Bloomberg reported Walt Disney will lay off 28,000 workers across its amusement parks. American Airlines and United are set to layoff 32,000 workers without an injection of funds.

“I am extremely sorry we have reached this outcome,” American Airlines Chief Executive Officer Doug Parker said in a letter to employees as he announced the layoffs. “It is not what you all deserve.”

Our Voice

Published at Fri, 02 Oct 2020 19:48:00 +0000

Founder of Yo Soy AfroLatina Wins $5K in Good Morning America Pitch Contest

This week on GMA3: What You Need to Know, three Latina-owned businesses pitched to Latina model and entrepreneur Alexandra Cristin, founder of Glam Seamless, for a chance to win money in the show’s Pitch Payday Challenge. Today, all three brands, including Yo Soy AfroLatina, found out that their businesses will be $5,000 closer to realizing their dreams.

Yo Soy AfroLatina was founded by Bianca Kea—who, as a Black American and a Mexican American, considers herself “a fusion of two really dope cultures”—with a mission to empower Black women within the Latin community. Its branded merchandise includes T-shirts, coffee mugs, hats, and totes with sayings such as “Not All Latinas Look the Same” and “Not Your Nena, Shawty, Mami, Baby, Princesa.”

“As a little girl growing up in Detroit, encountering an Afro-Latino was rare. There was little to no Latino representation in the Midwest, leading me to rely on mainstream media for a portrayal of my community,” she writes on her website.

“When I began taking trips to the tierra of Mexico 10 years ago, I remember feeling overjoyed at the sight of people who looked like me. I felt seen. I felt recognized. From then on, a hunger to educate myself on the Black diaspora within the Latin American community grew exponentially.”

(Image: Facebook/YoSoyAfroLatina)

According to GMA, Kea left her 9-to-5 in advertising to start her side hustle.

“I wanted to create a business and a product that I personally love and that I knew that I could wear on a daily basis, so something that was bold and empowering but cute,” she said in her pitch package.

“I want to expand Yo Soy AfroLatina into an empire. And I also want to have an impact on my communities by empowering them to really embrace their identities and walk in their truth.”

Kea said she will use the money to diversify the brand’s product portfolio, improve quality, bring production in house, and build out her team of Black and brown creatives.

Published at Fri, 02 Oct 2020 19:20:48 +0000

House Passes Another Coronavirus Stimulus Package

The House of Representatives passed a $2.2 million coronavirus stimulus plan Thursday as Democrats and Republicans continue to spar over how much a second package should cost.

The bill was approved in a 214-207 vote. Eighteen Democrats voted against the bill as lawmakers in competitive districts are being cautious with the election so close.

According to CNBC, the bill would reinstate the $600 federal unemployment benefit through the year; send a second $1,200 direct payment to most Americans; provide $436 billion in relief over one year to state and local governments; authorize another round of Paycheck Protection Program funding, and inject $75 billion into coronavirus testing and contact tracing efforts, $225 billion into education, and $57 billion into child care, among other measures.

The bill has no chance to make it to a vote in the Senate. Senate Republicans have been steadfast on a relief package that costs no more than $1.5 trillion.

The Thursday vote came following another round of failed negotiations between the Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. Although the pair are committed to continuing negotiations, the two are still far apart on a range of issues including how much aid to send state and local governments and whether to establish a liability shield for businesses and schools.

The coronavirus pandemic has killed more than 200,000 people in the U.S., sent millions to unemployment, and has bankrupted businesses at an unprecedented rate. Not even the president could avoid it as Donald Trump announced early Friday morning he and the first lady have contracted the coronavirus.

With negotiations at an impasse, it’s more than likely a second coronavirus stimulus package will not be passed before the election, which could have an effect on it. It’s also unclear which side will budge first. Democrats believe the money is necessary to keep the economy from falling apart as the coronavirus continues to have an effect on the economy.

Meanwhile, Republicans are worried about spending too much money and providing benefits that keep Americans from going back to work.

The coronavirus pandemic has led to billions in lost revenue and large corporations have announced significant layoffs are coming within days without help from the government. Bloomberg reported Walt Disney will lay off 28,000 workers across its amusement parks. American Airlines and United are set to layoff 32,000 workers without an injection of funds.

“I am extremely sorry we have reached this outcome,” American Airlines Chief Executive Officer Doug Parker said in a letter to employees as he announced the layoffs. “It is not what you all deserve.”

Our Voice

Published at Fri, 02 Oct 2020 19:48:00 +0000