New Coronavirus Relief Package May Include Jobs To Rebuild Communities Affected By Pandemic

In the next coronavirus relief package, Congress is expected to include programs that offer employment to American youth who can potentially help rebuild communities that have been left devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new inclusion may result due to constant pressure from the National service organizations to the Congress to include schemes such as AmeriCorps to employ hundreds and thousands of young people.

The bill, supported by the senators including eight Republicans and eight Democrats, is expected to be included in the upcoming coronavirus relief stimulus that is still under development in the Senate. If included, the bill would lead to an increase in the number of jobs available in AmeriCorps from 75,000 to 250,000 a year over three years.

This will also mean that the annual stipend of the program will be increased to $25,000. As a part of the bill, the recovery of the areas that were severely affected by the pandemic, the rural and high-poverty regions are expected to be prioritized.

Also, it is expected that veterans, minorities, Native Americans and people with atypical abilities will be prioritized in terms of hiring for suitable jobs.

"The federal funding currently available is not enough to help address the core weaknesses in education, the economy and public health exposed by this pandemic," said AnnMaura Connolly, president of the nonprofit group Voices for National Service.

Connolly’s comments came as a part of a letter written on behalf of 168 civilian and veterans service organizations and sent to Senate and House leaders on Sunday, July 19.

"This is a defining moment for this generation of young people, and I think they want to be part of helping the country recover," Connolly said over a telephonic interview.

Meanwhile, the U.S. President Donald Trump has said that he would not sign another coronavirus relief package stimulus until it includes a payroll tax cut for workers. He has shown his intentions for the same before as well and his past calls have met with a criticism and opposition from both Democrats as well as Republicans.