Dear MoveOn member,

This is a make-it-or-break-it week for Democrats, who are poised to start
voting on President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill, including
an increase in the federal minimum wage from $7.25 an hour.^1

All 50 senators in the Democratic caucus are needed to pass the bill,
using special budget rules that prevent Mitch McConnell and the GOP from
filibustering it.

But at least two Democratic senators are putting the bill at risk, saying
they won't support increasing the minimum wage—even though it would lift
nearly 1 million people out of poverty and increase pay for a stunning 21%
of U.S. workers.^2,3,4

This is the Democrats' moment. And they need to deliver to a country
ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic and massive racial and economic
inequality. But that means being strong—and not negotiating with
themselves when they don't need a single Republican vote.

That's why MoveOn is springing into action to pressure the two clear
Democratic holdouts—Senators Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten
Sinema of Arizona—as well as other senators if needed, to vote for
President Biden's plan. But we need your help to have the resources to do
it:



[ [link removed] ]Will you chip in $3 right now to help put up ads,
organize events in their states, enable us to connect with tens of
thousands of their constituents about what's at stake and how they can
help, and do everything that is needed to win their votes and pass the
COVID relief bill with a $15 minimum wage?



With the pandemic exposing America's deep racial disparities, the Reverend
Dr. William J. Barber II, co-chair of the Poor People's Campaign, calls
the fight for a $15 minimum wage "our Selma."^5

He explains, "Just as the Selma campaign became a symbol during the civil
rights movement of the need for legislation to expand voting rights, the
$15 an hour minimum wage proposal in Joe Biden's American Rescue Plan
represents the possibility that our government can take decisive action to
make racial justice real today."^6

But the latest media reports describe the bill as "essentially in the
hands of possible dissenters like [Sen.] Manchin."^7

John, we need to do everything we can to keep the minimum wage
increase in the COVID relief bill, and time is of the essence.



[ [link removed] ]Will you rush a donation of $3 right now to help us get
Democratic Senators Manchin and Sinema to vote for President Biden's COVID
relief bill?



President Biden's COVID relief bill, including increasing the minimum
wage, is wildly popular.^8 But Democrats need to stop chasing their tail
and get it done.



[ [link removed] ]Please, join with us while there's still time and chip in
$3 now.



Thanks for all you do. 

–Mohammad, Mark, Manny, Melissa, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "The House is set to pass Biden's Covid relief bill this week – here's
what's next," CNBC, February 22, 2021
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2. "House Prepares to Pass Biden’s COVID Relief Bill This Week," New York,
February 22, 2021
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3. "Raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour would lift 900,000
people out of poverty while adding $54 billion to the deficit, CBO report
finds," Insider, February 8, 2021
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4. "Why the U.S. needs a $15 minimum wage," Economic Policy Institute,
January 26, 2021
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5. "The Fight for a $15 Minimum Wage Is Our Selma," Time, February 17,
2021
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6. Ibid.

7. "House Prepares to Pass Biden’s COVID Relief Bill This Week," New York,
February 22, 2021
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8. "Republicans Struggle to Derail Increasingly Popular Stimulus Package,"
The New York Times, February 19, 2021
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Want to support our work? With our nation ravaged by the pandemic and the
cruelty and incompetence of the Trump administration, we need to take bold
action to contain the spread of the virus, speed up the delivery of
vaccines, and deliver real economic relief to families across the country.
MoveOn is prepared to launch a massive, nationwide campaign to ensure
Congress acts swiftly to deliver more emergency checks, extend
unemployment benefits, ramp up our nation's vaccination program, and more.
But we need your help.

Will you chip in to our campaign to ensure Congress acts boldly to
overcome the pandemic and build back our economy?



[ [link removed] ]Click here to chip in $3, or whatever you can afford.





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