Empowering workers has always been among the central goals of the unemployment insurance system. A strong UI system prevents jobless workers from accepting positions that are unsafe, unsuitable, or a poor match for their skills and abilities, which can weaken workers’ earning potential for years.

Congress may have averted a government shutdown for now, but the appropriations fight continues. We need to make sure our representatives invest in the IRS to secure free and fair tax filing that will take the cost and headache out of tax filing for tens of millions of people.

Congress needs to prioritize the wellbeing of our nation’s youngest learners by abundantly funding Head Start to secure a healthy, thriving economy that works for all. We know how hard we fight for our kids. Our elected leaders need to fight for them too.

The 2023 Farm Bill is a chance for Congress to double down on nutrition incentive programs like GusNIP, which are critical in helping low-income families gain access to fruits and vegetables.

As members of ProsperUS, a coalition of 87 movement groups, labor organizations, think tanks, experts, and advocates across the country, we urge Congress to quickly pass appropriations bills – at least at the spending levels agreed upon in the bipartisan Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 – and to refuse to entertain legislation that guts critical programs so many Americans rely on.

Subsidized employment most often comes to people’s minds during times of high unemployment, but it’s also beneficial when the national unemployment rate is as low as it is today.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) currently provides food vouchers to about 42 million people. This critical program ensures they have enough food for themselves and their families. Despite these benefits, SNAP’s effectiveness is limited by punitive restrictions and paperwork burdens.

Climate-related disasters and technological change are increasing in frequency and severity, shifting who needs access to UI and how frequently. We must invest in expanding unemployment benefits to workers who are currently excluded. 

If Congressional Republicans do not waver in their demands for spending cuts and the federal government runs out of money to pay our bills, then every gear of governance could grind to a halt.

The 2022 midterm elections were a nail-biter, however, the Democrats retained the majority in the U.S. Senate and successfully defended and won Democratic seats in many state legislatures and state houses across the country.

After over a year of negotiations, the Senate and the House passed a reconciliation bill. While we celebrate long-needed health care and energy provisions finally coming to fruition, the bill leaves out too many critical investments in women, children, and young people and more is needed.

Child care is more than a place where children go during their parents’ working hours; it is a healthy and nurturing space where children can grow, a support for women and families, and a crucial contributor to the nation’s overall economic growth and security.

In July to December 2021, the Biden Administration launched one of the most ambitious enhanced tax credit programs in history in the American Rescue Plan Act, the expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC). For the first time, millions of families received monthly payments of $250 to $300 per child over six months.

Southern families are facing the heat of economic challenges, as we’re seeing with food insecurity, rising gas prices, and a lack of affordable housing. Yet, their leaders still have a unique opportunity to promote an equitable recovery through the American Rescue Plan.

UI protects workers and their families from significant hardship, provides substantial stimulus to the economy to counteract recessions, and boosts worker power to demand better pay and conditions. However, this safety net is shamefully inadequate.

Today, in a letter to Speaker Pelosi and Leader Schumer, ProsperUS urged Congress to implement popular, needed, and long-overdue investments in climate, care, and good-paying jobs.