WASHINGTON, DC — FWD.us president Todd Schulte issued the following statement on the HEROES Act:

“While we are still reviewing the HEROES Act, we are pleased it includes aspects of the type of bold, inclusive relief that will benefit everyone in our country. We want to thank Speaker Pelosi and those involved in crafting this legislation. We will all be safer and healthier by reducing vulnerable jail and prison populations and providing support for those coming home, and this bill takes steps in this direction. We will all be safer and healthier by ensuring everyone has access to free testing and treatment regardless of their immigration status, and this bill takes steps to ensure this access, too. The HEROES Act provides more direct economic relief to all taxpayers, and does not discriminate against U.S. citizens who are married to immigrants as previous legislation did. And it provides a critically important work authorization extension to DACA recipients and other immigrants whose ability to live and work legally has been put further at risk due to this crisis.

“This bill is much-needed. We still urge more action to rise to meet the challenges of this public health and economic crisis, including additional actions to safely reduce the number of people who are at dangerous risk of infection while incarcerated.”