DNC Chair Tom Perez released the following statement on House Democrats’ unveiling of the HEROES Act, which implements key reforms Democratic committee leaders called for to protect the right to vote:

“I applaud Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats for their bold leadership in protecting Americans’ lives, livelihoods, and the life of our democracy with the HEROES Act. While Trump, McConnell and Republicans would rather let states go bankrupt and children go hungry, Democrats are fighting for American workers and families. With more than 80,000 Americans dead, over 1 million infected, and 33 million unemployed, now is the time to step up to provide clarity and address the needs of the American people, not to sit back and see how bad things get.

“The HEROES Act honors our commitment to keep frontline and essential workers safe and paid; protects the health of all Americans through testing, tracing, treatment, and health coverage; and helps ensure Americans are able to put food on the table, keep a roof over their heads, and make ends meet. Just as importantly, the HEROES Act will safeguard our democracy by ensuring no-excuse vote-by-mail, 15 days of in-person early voting, and automatic mail ballots during crises such as COVID-19, while providing an additional $3.6 billion in funding to help states put this infrastructure in place.

“Trump’s failed leadership has made this crisis worse than it needed to be. As Trump declares mission accomplished, Democrats will never stop fighting to protect the American people and put their health concerns first. Democrats have a plan to ensure that no American has to choose between their health, economic well-being, or their democratic rights. Come November, voters will know who is fighting for them and who abandoned them in their time of need.”