John,

We are just days away from Congress agreeing on a historic Build Back Better investment agenda that will implement a wide range of historic accomplishments not seen in our country since FDR's New Deal. And we still have time to make it as strong as possible.

The pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in our unemployment insurance system. When expanded unemployment benefits were cut in early September, millions were left to fend for themselves.

Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden recently introduced the Unemployment Insurance Improvement Act. The bill would dramatically reform and improve our UI system. And we have to fight to ensure it is included in the Build Back Better human infrastructure investment plan.

Add your name! Join CHN and our growing national coalition to demand Congress include the Unemployment Insurance Improvement Act in the Build Back Better reconciliation bill!

Here is what this critically important legislation would do:

• Guarantee six months of UI coverage;
• Modernize the application process by allowing states to accept online applications while ensuring the application process is mobile friendly and accessible in multiple languages;
• Expand coverage to part-time workers;
• Lower the income threshold for qualification of UI benefits;
• Ensure states are not able to shortchange workers by determining eligibility based on old wage records;
• Requiring employers to provide information regarding unemployment compensation claim-filing to employees upon separation from employment.

In addition to the obvious health crisis created by COVID-19, this pandemic caused incredible economic damage. Today, millions of households are behind on rent and utility bills. This financial pain could have been largely prevented with an updated UI system.

We now have an opportunity to act. Don't let this terrible pandemic plunge more working families into economic turmoil and hardship. Add your name! Demand Congress pass the Unemployment Insurance Improvement Act as a part of the Build Back Better investment agenda.

We are keeping the pressure on Congress to demand they go BIG and BOLD and pass a robust human needs agenda for our families and our future.

Thank you for all you do to demand accountability from our political leaders and to fight for the needs of the vulnerable, the sick and the poor.

Deborah Weinstein
Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs