Congress must not go home without passing an economic recovery package!

Unemployment is up.
Millions are struggling to pay for food, gas, and housing.
Heating costs will rise 40 percent this winter, and many households just don't know how they can possibly manage.

Call your Rep. and Senators Tomorrow, September 17 to tell them they must act now!

Use this toll-free number: 1-888-245-0215

Tell them: Please do not leave this month without passing an economic recovery package that helps low-income people avoid hardships, helps the jobless, maintains needed public services, and boosts the economy.

Wednesday September 17 is the best day to call. But you can call any day this week - Sept. 16-19. You'll be connected to the Capitol Switchboard - please ask to be connected to your Representative and your two Senators.
If you don't know your Representative's name: http://www.house.gov (upper left)
If you don't know your Senators' name: http://www.senate.gov/ (upper right)

Background: The House leadership is expected to bring up a recovery bill soon. Discussions are going on now about what might be in the package. We need your help to press for aid to help low-income people pay for food, heat, and other basic needs, and to make sure that essential public services are maintained. Congress needs to hear from constituents who demand that urgent needs are met - both because it's the right thing to do and because economists tell us these investments will boost the economy and build a shared recovery. It won't be easy to pass a recovery bill, but if Congress hears a sense of urgency from callers, they'll understand they cannot walk away until January without having acted.

Advocates have been urging more funds for food and home energy assistance, additional weeks of unemployment benefits, more aid to states for rising Medicaid costs and to keep collecting child support owed to millions of children, more funds for Head Start, and more jobs through infrastructure repair and jobs programs for youth. For explanation of these proposals, see Towards Shared Recovery, at http://www.chn.org/pdf/2008/stimulus9908.pdf It's great to mention some or all of these important items when you call.

We know making these calls is not your favorite thing to do. But Congress needs to be held accountable for taking urgently needed action. They're not accountable if they don't think anyone is paying attention.

Many thanks - please forward this to everyone you can think of.