Our families are hurting! COVID-19 cases are surging again, unemployment remains high and many schools and child care centers remain closed.

Yet on Dec. 26, an estimated 12 million workers will be suddenly cut off from unemployment benefits, including 7.3 million who will lose Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) — the program that supports caregivers whose kids’ schools or child care programs are closed or remote.

To protect public health and keep the economy afloat, Congress must deliver the support our families need.

We are counting on Mitch McConnell along with Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow to stand up for our families and immediately pass a robust, comprehensive COVID-19 relief bill which extends federal unemployment programs, restores the $600/week boost in unemployment benefits, expands paid family leave and earned sick days, provides robust funding for child care and K-12 education, expands eviction protections, includes immigrant families who are on the front lines fighting COVID-19, and ensures every family can access the testing, care, and vaccinations we need to fight COVID-19.

Blocking more COVID-19 relief is not just cruel, it’s bad economic policy. UI is great stimulus. The spending made possible by pandemic UI benefits is supporting millions of jobs. Letting these benefits expire means cutting those jobs.

There are now 25.7 million workers who are officially unemployed, otherwise out of work because of the virus, or have seen a drop in hours and pay because of the pandemic. And job growth is slowing. Stimulus is desperately needed.

The House has passed several bills that address COVID-19 relief but Mitch McConnell will not bring them up for a vote. We need a bill that protects small businesses and the workers. The rich do not need more tax cuts so they can buy back more of their stocks.

Hardworking Americans need help Now!

MARY O’NEILL,

Presque Isle