Team,

In the past month, nearly 22 million Americans have filed jobless claims. It’s clearer than ever that mass unemployment is a policy choice — and we can and should choose differently.

That’s why I have proposed the Paycheck Guarantee Act, a bold solution that matches the scale of this crisis. Instead of forcing employees to file for unemployment, this bill would provide a federal paycheck guarantee so that employers can keep workers on the payroll.

Beyond guaranteeing a paycheck, my proposal will keep workers enrolled in employer-sponsored benefits, including health care; encourage employers to rehire recently-laid off or furloughed workers by covering payroll retroactively to the start of the crisis; cover essential business expenses like rent; and deliver support to workers and employers as quickly as possible.

We can’t afford to take half measures in this crisis, and I promise you I won’t stop pushing for bold solutions for working people.

In solidarity,

Pramila