Letter to the editor: HEROES Act, clean energy essential

In May, House Democrats passed the HEROES Act, a bill to help families, workers and businesses weather the economic fallout of the pandemic. However, Senate Republicans have left the HEROES Act that would help us climb out of this mess and work toward a brighter future to languish in a legislative graveyard. They even took a vacation while Pennsylvanians suffered.

At this point, passing the HEROES Act is the least the Senate can do. I request that Sen. Pat Toomey move quickly to pass the HEROES Act and provide relief to desperate Americans. I would think that, as a professed Catholic, he would have a heart to hear the cry of those in need and do something about it.

To the Democrats, your work is not yet done. You must focus on aiding the clean energy sector. This is a vitally important piece of the recovery, as it is needed for us to create a carbon-neutral economy and move into a vibrant, resilient future. Previous to this crisis, clean-energy workers outnumbered fossil-fuel workers 3 to 1. This is an essential part of the economy. Let’s create a pollution-free, worker-friendly economy — now is the time.

Laura Jacko

Verona