Friend,

If Congress does nothing, expanded unemployment benefits will expire at the end of this month.

This would be catastrophic for millions of Americans, leaving many unable to afford necessities like food and rent―but that’s what Republicans want. We’re fighting back.

What if, instead of catastrophe, “doing nothing” preserved the aid that is keeping millions of Americans from falling into poverty during the pandemic? This morning, Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Ron Wyden dropped a HUGE bill to do exactly that—and they’re using Data for Progress to build support. This is a huge win for the progressive movement.

Data for Progress is working with top Democratic leaders to stop Republicans from cutting the benefits Americans need. But we can’t do it alone — chip in $5 to Data for Progress now!

And it’s partially because of the polling on automatic stabilizers Data for Progress presented to Schumer’s office. Today, the Democratic leader published an exclusive article on our site to advocate for his bill that’s generating a LOT of traction.

Before that, Senator Wyden used the Data for Progress blog to show overwhelming support for automatic stabilizers.

Time is running out to preserve the $600 a week boost in unemployment benefits provided by the CARES Act. Congress is great at doing nothing―and because the bill ends the benefits on a date, rather than because the crisis has passed, enhanced benefits that Americans are receiving will literally disappear unless we mount massive resistance.

That’s why Schumer and Wyden’s bill is so important. The bill would lock the $600 boost in place until the unemployment rate drops to a far lower level. As Schumer explains on our blog:

Increasing unemployment relief based on data and economic necessity, rather than the political whims of Senate Republicans, will not only provide Americans with greater economic certainty and security, but it will also allow for long-term growth and stability for the entire U.S. economy.

Doing nothing isn’t an option―chip in to fight back and keep millions of Americans out of poverty!

In 2009, the expanded unemployment insurance was $25. Now, Democrats are calling for a $600 expansion to be extended for as long as unemployment is above pre-coronavirus levels. That’s a 2300% increase, directly into the pockets of American workers.

But we only have 31 days—if nothing is passed by July 31, the benefits will expire. Research shows that without the benefits provided by the CARES Act, 12 million additional Americans, disproportionately people of color, would have fallen into poverty.

Data for Progress is leading the charge to pass this legislation. We’ve published op-eds from both Schumer and Wyden, and our polling shows that automatic stabilizers are immensely popular. This polling is critical to convincing legislators in Congress to vote for the bill.

Because Data for Progress has a leadership role in the new progressive infrastructure, our research provides the backbone for activism in Washington and among activists around the country. This unified progressive movement is exactly what we’ll need to be successful in making the transformational changes this moment demands.

We need your immediate support to make a BIG PUSH for Schumer and Wyden’s bill. Donate $5 by clicking here right now!

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Thanks,

Sean McElwee
Data for Progress