Tell your senators: Vote YES on the American Rescue Plan
March 2, 2021
Call your Senators and tell them we’ve waited long enough for adequate COVID-19 relief, and therefore they MUST vote to pass the American Rescue Plan Act.
The American Rescue Plan Act would provide relief to entertainment workers who remain out of work through no fault of their own and economic support until a safe return to work is possible, while also beginning to set the stage for the recovery of our industry.
This historic rescue package goes beyond partisan politics, as it provides benefits and programs entertainment workers’ families need:
- Increases the federal weekly unemployment supplement to $400 and extends the COVID-19 unemployment programs through the end of August
- Provides an 85% subsidy of COBRA premiums through the end of September, so that members who have not yet returned to work can remain on multiemployer health plans
- Provides direct payments of $1,400 for those making less than $75,000/yr, based on 2019 or 2020 taxes (depending on whether you’ve filed 2020 taxes)
- Appropriates $135 million in emergency supplemental funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and an additional $1.25 billion for the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Program (Save Our Stages)
READ MORE: IATSE Lauds House Passage of American Rescue Plan Act, Urges Swift Senate Action — IATSE Cares
It’s been almost a year since IATSE members and allies sent over 100,000 letters to Congress to ensure entertainment workers were included in the CARES Act. When we act together, we make our voices heard loud and clear by Congress.
In Solidarity,
Team IATSE
P.S. We made it easy for you to write a letter to your Senators, too!