The coronavirus has had a staggering impact on the health and the economy, from lives lost and long-term illness and disability to disruption in the labor market and supply chains to a mental health crisis and lost instructional time for children and adolescents. Many of these negative outcomes disproportionately affect women, older adults, disabled individuals, and people of color.
The Center for American Progress is committed to supporting continued coronavirus preparedness and response to proactively protect health in the United States and around the globe. The United States must continue to monitor disease trends; plan and invest in vaccines, tests, and treatments; continue research and development on issues such as long COVID and updated strategies to combat new variants; educate the public on ways to reduce risk; and strengthen the public health system. It must also address the persistent health and economic consequences of the coronavirus through policies such as paid sick leave, access to health care, workplace accommodations and safety standards, and mental health supports. These investments are critical for the United States to respond quickly and protect the nation from further illness, disability, death, and economic disruption.
The federal government can make it easier and more affordable for individuals to reduce their own COVID-19 risk and take action to support public health.
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On the second anniversary of the American Rescue Plan, Americans share how the legislation has affected their lives and communities.
The lack of funding for COVID-19 response has left the country unprepared for a possible surge of the coronavirus this winter and beyond.
Upgrading school ventilation and air filtration is a critical part of a multilayered strategy to improve and protect health, education, the environment, and equity.
Economists have long considered many indicators—including the state of the labor market, which is still booming—when determining if the United States is in a recession.
Congress must act now to resolve the nation’s infant and specialty formula crisis by addressing supplies, cost, and accessibility and then take steps to prevent future shortages.
The nursing profession is critical to the health of the country and the economic security of millions of workers. This video shows how the nation can support its nurses.
The COVID-19 pandemic worsened a national shortage of registered nurses, making it increasingly urgent that policymakers invest in higher education, coordinate strategies to alleviate the pressures on the nursing workforce, and make the entire health care system more equitable and stable.
Major investments of federal funding and sustained coordination are needed to mitigate the impact of nursing shortages and improve the nation’s ability to improve the health care system.
To improve health and well-being, policymakers must act to address inequities, infrastructure, and social determinants of health that contribute to poor health.
Policies to strengthen the nation’s health must ensure that individuals and communities are healthy, thriving, and inclusive through long-term, sustained investments.
As the conclusion of the national public health emergency looms, state and federal policymakers should improve continuity of care for millions of Medicaid enrollees facing disenrollment and preserve critical access to COVID-19 testing and treatment.
Data show that in just one year, the 2021 American Rescue Plan eased hardship for millions of Americans and demonstrated the need for further federal investment to build a long-term, equitable economy that works for all.
We pursue climate action that meets the crisis’s urgency, creates good-quality jobs, benefits disadvantaged communities, and restores U.S. credibility on the global stage.
We work to strengthen public health systems and improve health care coverage, access, and affordability.
Economic growth must be built on the foundation of a strong and secure middle class so that all Americans benefit from growth.
We apply a racial equity lens in developing and advancing policies that aim to root out entrenched systemic racism to ensure everyone has an opportunity to thrive.
Democracy is under attack at home and abroad. We must act to ensure it is accessible to all, accountable, and can serve as a force of good.
