Unemployment benefits could increase by $300 per week

New York – The progressive wing of the Democratic Party is pushing members of Congress, including leadership, to include an unemployment expansion in the $3.5 trillion tax and spending package. Unemployment benefits could be increasing by $300 per week again.

A total of 13 lawmakers wrote a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer calling for relaunch and expansion of the Pandemic Unemployment.

Assistance. “The current state of the unemployment system is a threat to all communities,” they wrote. “Especially black and brown communities. We strongly urge Congress to include such improvements before the Build Back Better Act comes for a vote in the House and Senate.”

According to opponents of Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, it kept people out of the workforce.

Cori Bush, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jerrold Nadler, Jamie Raskin, Mondaine Jones, and Ilhan Omar were among the lawmakers who signed the letter.

The previously added unemployment benefits have expired on September 6. The most recent version of unemployment enhancement included an additional $300 per week for individuals who were unemployed. The result was extended unemployment to workers who otherwise wouldn’t qualify for traditional jobless benefits.

Democrats want to debate about their necessity.

There are also calls for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance to be extended for a set period of time, as a means to bypass state opt-outs.