SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) led a letter to President Joe Biden urging recurring stimulus payments for the duration of the coronavirus pandemic in the Build Back Better infrastructure and jobs proposal . (Photo: Andrew Harnik/AFP via Getty Images)
20 Senate Dems, Sanders Urge Recurring Stimulus Payments in Biden's 'Build Back Better' Plan
"This crisis is far from over, and families deserve certainty that they can put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads."
Mar 30, 2021
As President Joe Biden prepares to unveil the initial phase of his "Build Back Better" plan on Wednesday, 21 members of the Senate Democratic caucus on Tuesday called on him to include recurring direct payments and other benefits in the jobs and infrastructure proposal for the duration of the coronavirus pandemic.
"Polling shows 65% of Americans support recurring cash payments 'for the duration of the pandemic.' This includes support from 54% of Republicans and 60% of independents."
--senators' letter
"While we are pleased that the American Rescue Plan included a one-time direct payment and an extension of federal unemployment insurance programs, a single direct payment will not last long for most families," the senators--led by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.)--wrote in a letter (pdf). "We are worried about the cliff facing unemployed workers when the unemployment insurance extensions expire on September 6."
"This crisis is far from over, and families deserve certainty that they can put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads," the letter states. "Families should not be at the mercy of constantly shifting legislative timelines and ad hoc solutions."
The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, the coronavirus relief and recovery bill signed into law earlier this month by Biden, includes $1,400 one-time stimulus payments plus $400 in weekly unemployment benefit supplements for qualified individuals.
The letter lists several reasons for recurring payments and enhanced unemployment insurance. "First, these two forms of payments are effective together. Unemployment insurance has replaced lost income for millions who have lost their jobs," it says.
"Second, data shows that direct payments and enhanced unemployment insurance are among the most effective forms of relief available," the letter continues. "Not only do these payments help keep families out of poverty, but they act as economic stimulus by increasing spending and supporting jobs."
"Third, recurring direct payments have wide support from both the general public and economic experts," it states. "Polling shows 65% of Americans support recurring cash payments 'for the duration of the pandemic.' This includes support from 54% of Republicans and 60% of independents."
"As you have said, now is the time for boldness," the letter concludes. "As you prepare your Build Back Better plan for long-term economic recovery, know that we are ready to work with you in support of recurring direct checks and extended unemployment insurance benefits to support Americans who are still struggling during the pandemic."
Along with Wyden, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, senators who signed the letter include Budget Committee Chair Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Banking Committee Chair Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), and Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.).
This isn't the first time that senators have called on Biden to make recurring payments part of his Build Back Better plan. Earlier this month, Wyden, Sanders, Brown, and others sent the president a similar letter urging the move until the pandemic is over.
An Urgent Message From Our Co-Founder
Dear Common Dreams reader, It’s been nearly 30 years since I co-founded Common Dreams with my late wife, Lina Newhouser. We had the radical notion that journalism should serve the public good, not corporate profits. It was clear to us from the outset what it would take to build such a project. No paid advertisements. No corporate sponsors. No millionaire publisher telling us what to think or do. Many people said we wouldn't last a year, but we proved those doubters wrong. Together with a tremendous team of journalists and dedicated staff, we built an independent media outlet free from the constraints of profits and corporate control. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. Building Common Dreams was not easy. Our survival was never guaranteed. When you take on the most powerful forces—Wall Street greed, fossil fuel industry destruction, Big Tech lobbyists, and uber-rich oligarchs who have spent billions upon billions rigging the economy and democracy in their favor—the only bulwark you have is supporters who believe in your work. But here’s the urgent message from me today. It's never been this bad out there. And it's never been this hard to keep us going. At the very moment Common Dreams is most needed, the threats we face are intensifying. We need your support now more than ever. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. When everyone does the little they can afford, we are strong. But if that support retreats or dries up, so do we. Will you donate now to make sure Common Dreams not only survives but thrives? —Craig Brown, Co-founder |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
As President Joe Biden prepares to unveil the initial phase of his "Build Back Better" plan on Wednesday, 21 members of the Senate Democratic caucus on Tuesday called on him to include recurring direct payments and other benefits in the jobs and infrastructure proposal for the duration of the coronavirus pandemic.
"Polling shows 65% of Americans support recurring cash payments 'for the duration of the pandemic.' This includes support from 54% of Republicans and 60% of independents."
--senators' letter
"While we are pleased that the American Rescue Plan included a one-time direct payment and an extension of federal unemployment insurance programs, a single direct payment will not last long for most families," the senators--led by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.)--wrote in a letter (pdf). "We are worried about the cliff facing unemployed workers when the unemployment insurance extensions expire on September 6."
"This crisis is far from over, and families deserve certainty that they can put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads," the letter states. "Families should not be at the mercy of constantly shifting legislative timelines and ad hoc solutions."
The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, the coronavirus relief and recovery bill signed into law earlier this month by Biden, includes $1,400 one-time stimulus payments plus $400 in weekly unemployment benefit supplements for qualified individuals.
The letter lists several reasons for recurring payments and enhanced unemployment insurance. "First, these two forms of payments are effective together. Unemployment insurance has replaced lost income for millions who have lost their jobs," it says.
"Second, data shows that direct payments and enhanced unemployment insurance are among the most effective forms of relief available," the letter continues. "Not only do these payments help keep families out of poverty, but they act as economic stimulus by increasing spending and supporting jobs."
"Third, recurring direct payments have wide support from both the general public and economic experts," it states. "Polling shows 65% of Americans support recurring cash payments 'for the duration of the pandemic.' This includes support from 54% of Republicans and 60% of independents."
"As you have said, now is the time for boldness," the letter concludes. "As you prepare your Build Back Better plan for long-term economic recovery, know that we are ready to work with you in support of recurring direct checks and extended unemployment insurance benefits to support Americans who are still struggling during the pandemic."
Along with Wyden, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, senators who signed the letter include Budget Committee Chair Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Banking Committee Chair Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), and Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.).
This isn't the first time that senators have called on Biden to make recurring payments part of his Build Back Better plan. Earlier this month, Wyden, Sanders, Brown, and others sent the president a similar letter urging the move until the pandemic is over.
As President Joe Biden prepares to unveil the initial phase of his "Build Back Better" plan on Wednesday, 21 members of the Senate Democratic caucus on Tuesday called on him to include recurring direct payments and other benefits in the jobs and infrastructure proposal for the duration of the coronavirus pandemic.
"Polling shows 65% of Americans support recurring cash payments 'for the duration of the pandemic.' This includes support from 54% of Republicans and 60% of independents."
--senators' letter
"While we are pleased that the American Rescue Plan included a one-time direct payment and an extension of federal unemployment insurance programs, a single direct payment will not last long for most families," the senators--led by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.)--wrote in a letter (pdf). "We are worried about the cliff facing unemployed workers when the unemployment insurance extensions expire on September 6."
"This crisis is far from over, and families deserve certainty that they can put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads," the letter states. "Families should not be at the mercy of constantly shifting legislative timelines and ad hoc solutions."
The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, the coronavirus relief and recovery bill signed into law earlier this month by Biden, includes $1,400 one-time stimulus payments plus $400 in weekly unemployment benefit supplements for qualified individuals.
The letter lists several reasons for recurring payments and enhanced unemployment insurance. "First, these two forms of payments are effective together. Unemployment insurance has replaced lost income for millions who have lost their jobs," it says.
"Second, data shows that direct payments and enhanced unemployment insurance are among the most effective forms of relief available," the letter continues. "Not only do these payments help keep families out of poverty, but they act as economic stimulus by increasing spending and supporting jobs."
"Third, recurring direct payments have wide support from both the general public and economic experts," it states. "Polling shows 65% of Americans support recurring cash payments 'for the duration of the pandemic.' This includes support from 54% of Republicans and 60% of independents."
"As you have said, now is the time for boldness," the letter concludes. "As you prepare your Build Back Better plan for long-term economic recovery, know that we are ready to work with you in support of recurring direct checks and extended unemployment insurance benefits to support Americans who are still struggling during the pandemic."
Along with Wyden, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, senators who signed the letter include Budget Committee Chair Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Banking Committee Chair Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), and Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.).
This isn't the first time that senators have called on Biden to make recurring payments part of his Build Back Better plan. Earlier this month, Wyden, Sanders, Brown, and others sent the president a similar letter urging the move until the pandemic is over.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.