{"id":7690,"date":"2021-01-13T19:33:57","date_gmt":"2021-01-13T19:33:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiofree.org\/?p=149765"},"modified":"2021-01-13T19:33:57","modified_gmt":"2021-01-13T19:33:57","slug":"to-combat-ongoing-human-rights-crisis-600-groups-urge-biden-to-enact-utility-shutoff-moratorium-on-day-one","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2021\/01\/13\/to-combat-ongoing-human-rights-crisis-600-groups-urge-biden-to-enact-utility-shutoff-moratorium-on-day-one\/","title":{"rendered":"To Combat Ongoing ‘Human Rights Crisis,’ 600+ Groups Urge Biden to Enact Utility Shutoff Moratorium on Day One"},"content":{"rendered":"
A diverse coalition of more than 600 labor, environmental, racial justice, and faith-based organizations <\/span>delivered a letter Wednesday urging President-elect Joe Biden and his administration to enact a nationwide moratorium on utility disconnections on day one in the White House, stressing that continued access to water, electricity, heat, broadband, and other services is essential to slowing the spread of Covid-19, alleviating financial burdens on struggling households, and enabling remote learning.<\/p>\n “In order to fight both this deadly virus and deepening economic and social inequality, the Biden administration must use its power to enact a nationwide utility shutoff moratorium.” The call <\/a>from the No Shutoffs Coalition\u2014led by Food & Water Watch, Free Press Action, Center for Biological Diversity, the Partnership for Southern Equity, and the Democracy Collaborative\u2014declared that immediate federal action is needed to help millions of individuals and families facing poverty and lack of crucial services in the midst of unprecedented political and economic chaos during a deadly pandemic that has claimed nearly 380,000 lives in the U.S. alone over the last 10 months.<\/p>\n “No American\u2014regardless of the color of their skin, their zip code, or their income\u2014should ever have to choose between heating their homes, keeping the lights on, the broadband they need to work or learn remotely, and putting food on the table. That’s especially true in the middle of a global pandemic, where public health experts are emphasizing how important it is that each of us stay home to stay safe,” Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) said in a statement<\/a> supporting the coalition’s demand.<\/p>\n “While many states and utility companies have stepped up to do the right thing, many families are still just a missed payment away from losing critical utilities in the middle of this public health and economic emergency,” added Merkley, who last April wrote a letter <\/a>signed by 113 Congress members in support of a federal halt on shutoffs. “For all of us to get through this together we need to have a national disconnection moratorium that ensures that no family is left behind in the patchwork of policies.”<\/p>\n Even though regular hand-washing is critical to curbing the spread of Covid-19, “moratoriums on water shutoffs have so far been patchy and often short-lived<\/a>,” The Guardian<\/em> reported<\/a> Wednesday. “Only 20 states banned disconnections last year despite warnings from public health experts, and 11 of these moratoriums have expired. Currently, 56% of Americans\u2014183 million people\u2014are at risk of losing their water supply if they cannot keep up with bill payments.”<\/p>\n
\u2014Rep. Rashida Tlaib<\/p>\n