Maya Rockeymoore Cummings Unveils Bold New Deal for COVID-19 That Will Address Health Disparities and Promote Justice For All

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Maya Rockeymoore Cummings Unveils Bold New Deal for COVID-19 and the 21st
Century That Will Address Health Disparities and Promote Justice For All

Cummings Calls For a Policy Debate With Kwesi Mfumi: The 7thCongressional
District Needs to Hear Where Each Candidate Stands On The Key Issues

Baltimore — Maya Rockeymore Cummings, candidate for U.S. Congress
representing Maryland’s 7th Congressional District, today unveiled a bold
“New Deal for COVID-19 and the 21st Century” to ensure all Americans are
tested, treated, and protected during the pandemic. Further, her plan calls
for every American working family and individual to have a meaningful job at
a livable wage, affordable housing, safe neighborhoods, universal health
care, universal available child care and pre-school, excellent public
schools, affordable higher education, and a clean, safe environment.

Cummings faces Kwesi Mfume in the Democratic primary election on June 2,
2020. She entered the race because she was tired of hearing the rhetoric of
status quo elected officials who are not serious about eliminating
disparities in health and economic outcomes for black, brown and low-income
people. She believes it is time for a new generation in Congress who will
fight for ordinary people, and truly shake up the status quo.

Cummings is described as “a lifelong champion for social justice, human
rights, and strengthening the well-being of children, seniors, families, and
workers.” Cummings is the former Chair of the Maryland Democratic Party, the
former Chief of Staff for former Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-NY, and the widow of
the late and legendary Congressman Hon. Elijah Cummings.

“Donald Trump is the most incompetent president in recent history,” said
Cummings. “With a tragically delayed response to the pandemic, no national
COVID-19 public health plan and no national economic security plan for the
30 million newly unemployed, he has failed. The CARES Act offered an abysmal
loan program for small businesses. He is opposed to a universal health care
plan, wants to eliminate the U.S. Postal Service, and defund the World
Health Organization in the midst of the worst global public health crisis in
a century. The 7th District needs a member of Congress who will stand up to
Trump, and ensure that legislation such as the COVID-19 relief packages will
provide real economic and health care security to our community,” she added.

The time is now for Baltimore to have a Member of Congress who will speak
truth to power, and fight for bold and transformative solutions that will
benefit those who have been left out, marginalized and forgotten. We need a
“new America” where people come first, and a Congress that passes laws to
benefit the majority of Americans, not just the largest donors and the
wealthiest Americans.

Highlights of the New Deal for COVID-19 and the 21st Century:

* A “human-centric” America: The COVID-19 pandemic illuminated the
immoral economic and health disparities among African Americans and Latinos
that caused needless infections and deaths. Now is the time for deep
structural and transformational change. This cannot happen without members
of Congress who will speak truth to power, and can work with both parties,
as Cummings has done for decades.
* Strong Public Health Policy: Federal policy that will test, track,
treat, and isolate those infected with COVID-19 is desperately needed, like
the national plans that were effective in countries such as South Korea,
Germany and China. The raging pandemic must be controlled to enable a safe
reopening of the US. economy, and resumption of normal lives.
* An economic safety net: No person in America should be evicted or
have utilities shut off in their homes, apartments, hotels, or businesses
because of economic hardship due to COVID-19. This is the foundation of
People’s Emergncy New Deal for COVID-19.
* Protections for Essential Workers: Every essential worker in
America, must have hazard pay, access to health care, protective masks,
gloves, and other needed Personal Protective Equipment. All hospitals must
have the requisite number of PPE’s, respirators, and life-saving
prescription drugs.
* Universal Healthcare and Wellness Support: No one should be without
affordable, comprehensive, and high-quality health insurance or mental
health support, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those in facilities
or institutions such as homeless shelters or prisons deserve temporary safe
housing to protect them from harm. They are not expendable people; they are
human beings.
* Funding for infrastructure, housing security and job training:
Over-crowded and crumbling public schools must be rebuilt. Job training, job
creation and livable wage jobs are essential for all who want to work.
Involuntary homelessness must be eliminated by creating a housing-for-all
program. In addition, this nation desperately needs universal access to
tuition-free college, non-profit or government-run grocery stores to
eliminate food deserts in inner cities, and green jobs.

“America is the richest country in the world, but for decades, we have
accepted and cooperated with immoral and unconscionable public policies that
keep intact a permanent underclass of black and brown people,” said
Cummings. “If elected to Congress, I will work hand in hand with the
grassroots and the American civil society, to help create the largest
progressive movement in the history of America, with the critical mass
needed to transform our nation, and pass progressive legislation in
Congress, so we can be a moral nation that it is fair, just, and equal for
everyone-not just the privileged few.”

“This is why I am challenging my opponent, Kwesi Mfume to a video debate on
the most important policy issues of the day. The people need to hear the
truth,” concluded Cummings.