Black Businesses Scream as CARES Act Attempts to Eliminate Affirmative Action

WASHINGTON, DC, UNITED STATES, April 15, 2020 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The National Black Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) finds it shocking that the Department of Labor of the Trump Administration has made a move to eliminate Affirmative Action – a movement with roots within the Republican Party from the CARES Act (Coronavirus, Aid, Relief and Economic Security). We must act now, join us Thursday, April 16 to hear our plan of action.

Dr. Arthur Fletcher is “rolling” in his grave as the Cares Act gives permission to eliminate the application of Affirmative Action – a process he introduced in 1972 under the Nixon Administration.

“This is a sucker punch!” Says NBCC President/CEO Harry C. Alford, “The damage will be immense if we don’t act quickly. Our businesses will drop like flies. President Trump must step in and clarify this situation before the damage becomes too great,” says Alford.

Larry Ivory, Chairman of the NBCC and President of the Illinois State Black Chamber of Commerce states: “We have come too far to let this set-back stop our momentum. President Trump needs to step in.”

“Through the blood, sweat and tears of our ancestors they helped contribute to making America great! However, time and time again, our contributions and relevance to sustaining our country are forgotten. We need the Trump Administration and the United States Congress to remember that we matter, and respond to calls for inclusion in measures to improve the health and mortality of Blacks in America, as well as the equitable inclusion of authorized economic resources from our government immediately,” adds John Harmon, President of the African American Chamber of Commerce
of New Jersey.

In order to be a part of the solution join us on our call Thursday April 16, 2020 at 5:00 pm EDT. Click here to register. Here are the call-in details: 1-408-418-9388 and access code: 790 100 800. Join the NBCC conference call as we detail the agenda to survive the COVID-19 pandemic. We will lift the incredible voices of black businesses across the country as we fight and speak truth to power for our resilient future.

Senator Tim Scott Says Getting COVID-19 Information To African Americans Will 'Save Lives'

During an interview on NPR's Morning Edition, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) stressed the importance of federal government outreach to African Americans about preventive measures like wearing face coverings and hand-washing. "It's important for us to have a specific and unique campaign to communicate the importance of following the protocols within the African-American community," the senator said.

Listen to his comments below:

Today, April 15 is Jackie Robinson Day!

Today is Jackie Robinson Day in Major League Baseball.

Despite the coronavirus pandemic, Major League Baseball and the Jackie Robinson Foundation will hold their annual celebration on social media platforms and online by streaming content related to Jackie Robinson.

Since 2009, players, managers and coaches we are the number 42 on the back of their jerseys to mark the day.

Robinson is celebrated on this day because April 15th marks the day when the color barrier was broken in Major League baseball when Robinson made his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

This year is the 73rd anniversary dating back to 1947.

AG Letitia James Sues Trump Administration Over Unlawful Regulations Restricting Coronavirus-Based Paid Sick Leave

New York Attorney General Letitia James today filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration challenging its rule that unlawfully narrows workers’ rights to paid sick leave and emergency family leave during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The regulations put forth by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) contradict the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and risk denying vital financial support during an unprecedented crisis and exposing workers, their families, and their communities to unnecessary spread of COVID-19.

Additionally, Attorney General James filed a motion for summary judgment, requesting that the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York block the Trump Administration’s regulations and restore the FFCRA to its intended effect.

“As the efforts to stem the spread of COVID-19 continue, I will continue to leverage the powers of my office to serve as a frontline defense for protecting the rights of people, especially those who need a hand up at this time,” said Attorney General James. “The paid sick leave and emergency family leave provisions of the FFCRA were enacted to protect public health and to provide economic security to working families. The Trump Administration’s rule makes it harder for New Yorkers and Americans throughout the country to claim these paid benefits, which unnecessarily puts more workers at risk of exposure to COVID-19. I will fight to prevent that from happening.”

In what is the first-ever federal law mandating the right to paid leave for private sector workers in the country’s history, the FFCRA, enacted on March 18, includes key provisions requiring job-protected paid sick leave and emergency family leave for employees unable to work due to COVID-19. Up to 61 million employees are potentially eligible for paid sick leave or emergency family leave under the FFCRA. Congress enacted the paid sick leave and emergency family leave provisions in the FFCRA both to stem the rate of coronavirus transmission—by encouraging sick workers to stay home but still be paid—and to protect the economic well-being of workers who must stay at home to care for their children during this period of unprecedented national disruption. The FFCRA’s paid leave provisions assist in the implementation of the directives laid out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) calling for residents to take the necessary steps to lessen the spread of COVID-19, and protect themselves, their families, and their communities from devastating harm.

On April 1, DOL published a rule to implement the paid sick leave and emergency family leave requirements of the FFCRA. In the lawsuit filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Attorney General James argues that the new rule violates the law by:

*Unlawfully denying paid sick leave and emergency family leave to otherwise eligible employees if the employer determines—for any reason—that the employer does not have work for the employee; and

*Enabling the denial of the FFCRA’s paid sick leave and emergency family leave benefits to large classes of otherwise eligible workers by including them in an unlawfully broad definition of “health care provider.”

Further, Attorney General James also argues that DOL exceeds its authority under the FFCRA by:

*Prohibiting employees from taking their paid sick leave or emergency family leave intermittently absent their employer’s consent; and

*Conditioning an employee’s eligibility for paid sick leave or emergency family leave on the employee having previously provided documentation to the employer, including such unspecified documentation as may be required by a separate federal agency.

This case is being handled by Special Counsel to the Solicitor General Eric Haren and Assistant Attorneys General Fiona Kaye and Daniela Nogueira of the Division of Federal Initiatives, under the supervision of Chief Counsel for Federal Initiatives Matthew Colangelo.

Barack Obama endorses Joe Biden for president

Former President Obama endorsed Joe Biden for president in a video from his home, Obama said that Biden is the best leader for the country during a health and economic crisis brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.