Hello Friends --
"Don't despair. Keep the faith."
These were the words Rep. John Lewis shared with me as we sat together on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. With his passing, we lost a true American hero and one of most decent human beings to ever serve in Congress.
We owe Rep. Lewis an enormous debt of gratitude -- one that can only be returned by never flinching in the face of injustice and by fully embracing the beautiful struggle of America in progress.
This is so, even in the face of a global pandemic accompanied by a deep economic crisis. We must march forward, united, and not despair. We must keep the faith, do the work, and fight with integrity for the health, prosperity, and liberty of all Americans.
When we saw that the CARES Act simply wasn't enough to get us through the pandemic, we passed the HEROES Act -- which provides more direct payments to Americans, increases food assistance for the hungry, extends unemployment support for the out of work, supports state and local governments facing bankruptcy, gives hazard pay to frontline workers, and so much more. We cannot and will not let petty partisanship get in the way of our democracy's commitment to promoting the general welfare.
When 5.4 million Americans lost their health insurance during a pandemic, and Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court to strike down the Affordable Care Act, we pressed forward and passed the first expansion of the Affordable Care Act in more than a decade.
And when Congressman Lewis passed away, we didn't let the fight for voting rights die with him. Instead, Democrats are renewing our call to fully restore the Voting Rights Act, and we are calling on Mitch McConnell to allow a vote on it in the Senate.
I know it easy to feel alone right now -- or believe that civil society and America are on the brink.
But don't despair. Keep the faith. Know that there are leaders who have your back.
I have yours,
Antonio
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