The American Rescue Plan is a win for working-class people.

Hey Indivisibles, 

Today we celebrate! Indivisibles like you worked hard over the last four years, leading to the Democratic trifecta we have now! But you didn't stop there. In the last few weeks alone, you called your senators, you called your representatives, and today, President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan! 


This bill is one of the most significant, progressive relief plans ever passed in our history. Not only does it address the ongoing health crisis made worse by the Trump administration’s failed policies (or lack thereof), but it takes on the economic crisis that has ensued in the pandemic’s wake. The package goes further than just trying to fix the economy, it targets relief for Americans who’ve been hardest hit, including Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) who’ve been disproportionately impacted by both COVID-19 and the economic crisis, and it provides support for low-income families to alleviate poverty. And the package is this big because of people like us, who pushed our representatives and senators day in and day out, as well as supporting the Congressional Progressive Caucus as they flexed their power and worked to pass the strongest possible bill in the House.

A graphic from CAP that includes a pie chart breakdown of the American Rescue Plan. The title of the chart reads: Who does the American Rescue Plan help? American families.Thanks to our friends at CAP Action for this graphic!

This bill is overwhelmingly popular -- 70% of Americans, including 41% of Republicans, support Biden’s COVID relief bill.1 Not to mention that 63% of lower-income Republicans favor the relief package, and it’s easy to see why -- this bill fights for working-class people. By voting to pass Biden’s COVID-19 relief bill, Senate and House Dems voted in favor of:

  • $1,400 direct checks for families in need,
  • $66 billion to fund coronavirus testing and vaccine distribution,
  • $47 billion to help keep thousands of small businesses open,
  • $350 billion in state and local aid to pay for frontline healthcare workers fighting COVID-19,
  • Expanded unemployment insurance for those who have lost their jobs from COVID-19,
  • Lower health care costs for millions of Americans,
  • And so much more.

Biden’s COVID-19 relief package is highly targeted towards low-income people, as millions of Americans, especially BIPOC families, are bearing the brunt of the economic recession. In particular, women of all races and men of color are struggling the most to find employment due to the pandemic. Luckily, researchers are saying that this bill could become one of the most effective laws to fight poverty in a generation, reducing the child poverty rate by 50% -- which, since more and more people have slipped below the poverty line since the beginning of the pandemic, is welcome news and cause for celebration.2

And yet, not a single Republican in the Senate or the House voted to support this crucial COVID-19 relief bill. It passed because regular people called their Democratic senators and insisted they vote for relief, period. 

Republicans have been demanding we “work with them” since they lost the Senate and the White House, but this fight for COVID-19 relief has unmasked their lies, and we’re calling their bluff. They don’t want bipartisanship -- they want to obstruct and delay until they have the chance to regain power.

The filibuster is the biggest roadblock on the path forward, and you can bet that Mitch McConnell and the 49 other Republicans who didn’t vote for the wildly popular American Rescue Plan are going to use it to stop every single bill moving forward. So, we’re asking you to take a moment to celebrate this momentous win, and maybe shame your Republican senators and representatives who didn’t vote for the bill (don’t be fooled -- some are even on social media touting the merits of the bill that they voted against). And then, look ahead to the critical democracy reform bills heading to the Senate, and call your senators to demand they pass the For the People Act (S. 1) and the D.C. statehood bill (S. 51) without letting the filibuster get in the way. 

While we’ve got a long way to go in the months ahead, we’re so thankful you’re in this fight with us.

In solidarity,
Indivisible Team

 

1. Broad Public Support for Coronavirus Aid Package
2. To Juice the Economy, Biden Bets on the Poor

Indivisible Project is a locally-led, people-powered movement of thousands of local groups in red, blue, and purple states, and in urban, suburban, and rural areas. Our mission is to power and lift up a grassroots movement of local groups to defeat the Trump agenda, elect progressive leaders, and realize bold progressive policies.

Grassroots donations, not foundations or large gifts, are our single largest source of funding. That means we’re accountable to, and fueled by, Indivisibles on the ground. Chip in $7 to keep fueling our movement. 

To give by mail, send a check to Indivisible Project, PO Box 43884, Washington, DC 20010.

Click here to view this email in your browser or here to forward this email to a friend. This email was sent to [email protected] at zip code xxxxxx. Update your contact information here. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Indivisible Project is a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization. Donations are not tax-deductible.