Telepresser Today: Advocates Oppose McConnell’s Demand for Corporate Immunity
Civil Rights, Civil Justice, Workers’ Rights Groups Reject Proposals That Would Endanger Workers, Consumers, Patients
WHAT: Please join a press call at 4 p.m. EST to discuss why the corporate immunity bill that U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is proposing will hurt workers, consumers and patients, and worsen the COVID-19 crisis. McConnell’s plan would give sweeping immunity from liability to businesses that fail to take reasonable steps to keep workers and consumers safe. Public Citizen, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the American Association for Justice and the Service Employees International Union will discuss their strong opposition to this dangerous proposal.
As the COVID-19 crisis worsens, largely due to the Trump administration’s failure to impose nationwide rules to slow the spread of the virus, giving businesses immunity from accountability would increase infection rates, make consumers and workers less safe and prolong the pandemic. Publicly available data shows that, contrary to McConnell’s claims, there is no wave of lawsuits threatening an economic recovery. The real threat, both to the economy and to public health, is a virus spreading across the country in the face of AWOL federal leadership. Shielding corporations from accountability when they fail to take reasonable steps to keep people safe would exacerbate the crisis.
WHO: Robert Weissman, president, Public Citizen
LaShawn Warren, executive vice president of government affairs, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Nicole Berner, general counsel, Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
Julia Duncan, senior director of government affairs, American Association for Justice (AAJ)
Chiyomi Brent, worker, Amazon Fresh (currently bringing a lawsuit against Amazon)
WHEN: 4 p.m. EST, Monday, July 20
CALL: (888) 332-7137; Code: 49850047