Klobuchar Legislation to Help Nonprofits Hire Workers During Pandemic Introduced in the House

Press Release

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar's (D-MN) legislation to help nonprofits hire workers during the coronavirus pandemic was introduced in the House of Representatives yesterday by Representative Linda Sánchez (D-CA). The WORK NOW Act will help organizations meet increased service demand due to the pandemic and help newly unemployed Americans return to work serving their communities.

In May, Klobuchar introduced the legislation in the Senate with Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tom Carper (D-DE), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Chris Coons (D-DE).

The Work Now Act is also cosponsored by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Bob Casey (D-PA), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI).

"Nonprofits are on the front lines of this crisis helping millions of Americans in need. From food banks, to shelters, to counseling centers, charitable organizations are doing incredible work to help families put food on their table, provide housing assistance, and serve people with disabilities," Klobuchar said. "But as demand for their services soars, many of these organizations are struggling financially. At the same time, nearly 50 million Americans have lost their jobs and many are still looking for work. We need to help charitable nonprofits keep their doors open, scale their invaluable services, and provide opportunities for unemployed Americans to return to work serving their communities."

"Since the pandemic began, nonprofits and frontline organizations catering to vulnerable populations like homeless shelters, foodbanks, and domestic violence shelters, have seen declines in revenue and volunteers," said Rep. Linda Sánchez. "At the same time, these nonprofits are trying to adhere to social health guidelines while trying to stay afloat. This bill will provide new grants to allow nonprofits to retain their workforce or provide jobs for newly unemployed people."

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