John —

The economic crisis just took a turn for the worse. This week, nearly 30 million workers lost their supplemental unemployment income. Evictions and utility shutoff moratoria began to expire. Public transit agencies are identifying routes and workers to cut, threatening the only affordable transportation option for millions of essential workers. 

Meanwhile, stimulus negotiations in Washington, D.C. are at a standstill. Congressional leaders in both parties are picking and choosing where to send recovery funding in the next relief bill — leaving behind millions of frontline communities and families. This is unacceptable.

Dream Corps members across the country are fighting for Congressional relief to prioritize ALL Americans — not just those with the funding to fly in and out of D.C. Alongside Dream Corps #cut50 and Dream Corps TECH, we've set a goal to send more than 5,000 letters to Congress to make sure the voices of people in need are heard loud and clear. Can you help? 

Tell Congress: We need COVID-19 recovery that prioritizes the urgent needs of all Americans, FAST.

You've helped us bring the stories of countless struggling Americans to the attention of leaders in Washington. Americans who are fighting for their lives, homes, and futures. But negotiations are ongoing, and Members of Congress are being pulled in multiple directions every day — including by special interests and corporate executives chipping their way into relief meant for everyday people. 

We need to continue to push forward together and raise our voices if we're going to see change happen.

 Here's where we still need Congress to act:  

• Fund safe, reliable transit that protects workers & riders. Public transportation is keeping our economy running. Since the start of the pandemic, it's been a lifeline for essential workers to get to and from their jobs. For others, it's the only option to get to medical appointments, grocery stores, and other critical services. As transit agencies across the country see budgets and ridership continue to plummet, we need Congress to step in and invest $32 billion to keep service safe and running.

• Pass direct relief payments that reach ALL low & moderate-income households. It's been five months since Congress passed a one-time direct payment of $1,200 to help Americans get through the worst economic and unemployment crisis in a century. For many, monetary aid came and went months ago. For those left out, funds haven't come at all. We need additional emergency financial assistance for every American, along with a straightforward and easy way for people to access future payments beyond the IRS. 

• Extend the moratorium on evictions & utility shutoffs. In the past week, millions of people have been put on eviction notice and faced utility shutoffs, while heatwaves and COVID-19 cases continue to soar. Sending families in need onto the street and cutting off their water and electricity is not an option. We need Congress to immediately extend the moratorium on evictions and utility shutoffs.

• Take urgent action to preserve & protect the right to vote. We're less than 100 days from Election Day, and many states are still dragging their feet on a safe voting plan. We can't wait for chaos to hit before we act. We need Congress to set the standard and require states to offer and safeguard absentee voting to protect voters, poll workers, and our democracy. 

• Extend paid sick & family medical leave to protect public health. Millions of people have lost their jobs, face unsafe work conditions, or have no choice but to go into work even if they or a family member are sick. We're all connected by this crisis, and can't afford to undo progress. We need paid sick and family medical leave to be universal and immediately available for our economy to truly recover. 

The urgency of this crisis is worsening every day that Congress fails to act. Can you help us speak up for those who need help most?

Please send your letter: We need a COVID-19 stimulus that protects everyone's health and economic well-being, especially the most vulnerable among us.

Across three Dream Corps teams — Dream Corps Green for All, Dream Corps #cut50, and Dream Corps TECH — and tens of thousands of members nationwide, we're fighting for a future where none of us have to choose between risking our lives and keeping the lights on. We're fighting for a future where we aren't kept up at night, worried if our kids can stay in school without reliable internet access or if our loved ones will become just a number tied to a deadly prison pandemic. We're fighting to leave behind the broken structures of what we once called "normal," and build a future better than before. 

Thank you for standing with us,
— the Dream Corps team