For Immediate Release
October 8, 2020
Contact: Brian Reardon

Statement by Sr. Mary Haddad, RSM, President and CEO, Catholic Health Association of the United States

"The Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA) is deeply disturbed by the Administration's refusal to work with Congress to pass a critically important COVID-19 federal response package until after the election. Delaying the negotiations is unacceptable at a time when millions of American families face the expiration of unemployment benefits and struggle with food insecurity and missed rent and mortgage payments. While Catholic hospitals, long-term care providers and health care organizations continue to meet the challenges during this unprecedented time, this delay in passing a relief package will only cause preventable hardship for individuals, families and communities nationwide.

"Several weeks ago, we joined with national Catholic organizations calling for our leaders to come together for the common good. Understanding the gravity of the public health emergency and economic crisis, we were hopeful that the nation's elected leaders would come together on a legislative solution. The fact that the President instructed his aides to stop negotiating until after the election is a dereliction of duty that has dire implications for those who need emergency relief now.

"The effects of the pandemic will not wait until after the election, they need to be addressed now. The public health and economic crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage the nation and the world. The decision to cease negotiations on additional COVID-19 relief will be devastating for individuals and families struggling to make ends meet, and the erratic and inconsistent decision-making of this Administration is causing unnecessary distress during this time of national uncertainty.

"CHA urges our country's leaders to put aside partisan politics and lead with compassion, to protect our most vulnerable and to provide security and hope to those most in need."

Download a PDF version of the statement

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The Catholic Health Association of the United States is the national leadership organization of the Catholic health ministry, representing the largest nonprofit provider of health care services in the nation.

• 1 in 7 patients in the U.S. is cared for in a Catholic hospital each day.
• Catholic health care, which includes more than 2,200 hospitals, nursing homes, long-term care facilities, systems, sponsors, and related organizations, serves the full continuum of health care across our nation.
• Learn more at www.chausa.org.