What Should Be in the Bailout
Congress is trying again this week to pass a bailout bill to keep wobbly financial giants from collapse. This time the Senate is taking the lead, with a vote scheduled for today. The House will likely vote later this week.
Any financial assistance package must include help for the people hardest hit by the economic meltdown. High unemployment and low wages mean that many workers don't earn enough to put food on the table and to keep their families housed and safe. But as we write this, the package still does not include these important protections.
Take Action
Call your representative's Washington, DC office today. Urge her or him to help homeowners and low-income families affected by the recession by including 3 things in the bailout bill:
1. Expand the Child Tax Credit.
2. Include measures to help homeowners avoid foreclosure.
3. Extend unemployment insurance.
Use FCNL's website to find your representative's phone number and find talking points to help you make your call.
Background
Expanding the Child Tax Credit so that families earning less than $12,050 a year have access to the benefit would reach 3 million additional children in low-income families and increase support for 10 million more. More about the Child Tax Credit.
Restructuring mortgage payment will give millions of people the opportunity to pay off their debt and avoid foreclosure on their homes. More about how the bailout could potentially help homeowners.
Extending unemployment insurance would help the many people who have been unable to find work in this failing economy. In August, the unemployment rate was 6.1 percent, the highest it's been in a decade. Learn more about the unemployment crisis.
Contacting Legislators
Contact your members of Congress through FCNL's web site.
Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121
Sen. ________
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Rep. ________
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
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