Digital Toolkit: Families Deserve A Plan Digital Day of Action

With Congress back in session on September 8th, it’s time to dial up the pressure for a comprehensive COVID-19 relief package, now. Our community’s advocacy was critical to getting the House to pass the HEROES Act on May 15, legislation that took meaningful steps to combat the crises that grip this country. It’s been 116 days, and the Senate has yet to take meaningful steps to protect families’ health and financial security.

Top Lines from New BLS Employment Data

 New employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that COVID-19 continues to devastate our economy, leaving 13.6 million Americans without jobs in August 2020.

Since February 2020, 7.8 million Americans became newly unemployed, and an additional 4.6 million left the labor force altogether.

Between February and August, the nationwide unemployment rate has more than doubled, from just 3.5% in February to 8.4% in August.

The unemployment rate is even higher among African Americans, Asian Americans, and Latinos.

• For African Americans, the unemployment rate has increased by 7.2 percentage points, from 5.8% in February to 13% in August, the highest unemployment rate of any racial/ethnic group.
• For Asian Americans, the unemployment rate has increased by 8.2 percentage points, from 2.5% in February to 10.7% in August, the biggest increase of any racial/ethnic group
• For Latinos, the unemployment rate has increased by 6.1 percentage points, from 4.4% in February to 10.5% in August.
• For Whites, the unemployment rate has increased by 4.2 percentage points, from 3.1% in February to 7.3% in August.

^Source: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.a.htm

As the public health and economic crisis continues, unemployment is becoming increasingly permanent, meaning fewer Americans can access the health insurance they received through their employer.

In April 2020, the vast majority (78.3%) of job losses were the result of temporary layoffs, meaning these employees could have retained their job-based insurance while temporarily unemployed.

Since then, the percentage share of temporary layoffs has decreased each month, while the percentage share of permanent layoffs has increased. In August, 45.5% of job losses were due to temporary layoffs, while 30.6% were permanent.

^Source: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t11.htm

The health care industry has been hard-hit by COVID-19. Since February, the health care sector lost 711,000 employees, a 4.3% decrease in employment.

• Additionally, within the retail sector, health and personal care stores lost 92,000 employees, a 8.7% decrease in employment.

For comparison:

• Employment in the in the retail sector as a whole decreased by 4.1% since February;
• Employment in the manufacturing sector decreased by 5.6% since February; and
• Employment in the leisure and hospitality sector decreased by 24.5% since February.

^Source: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t17.htm

LTE Template and Messaging  and Media Guidance

Use this sample letter to the editor template and messaging and media guidance and tailor them as you see fit.

Videos

Suggested Tweets

• “…We call on Congress to #DoYourJob! States are experiencing massive cutbacks w/o sufficient federal support. #Medicaid is the proven efficient vehicle to help states avoid cutbacks & protect jobs and public health.” @fishmaneliot #FamiliesDeserveAPlan https://youtu.be/iy-Dbl-QaZI
• To date, we have lost over 36,000 black lives to #COVID19. How many more have to die before you act? #DoYourJob! #FamiliesDeserveAPlan https://youtu.be/ahPnGZFyMhQ
• #COVID19 is affecting Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and other people of color the most! Congress needs to pass comprehensive #COVID19 legislation to save lives! #DoYourJob! #FamiliesDeserveAPlan
• Children of color are more likely to develop serious complications due to #COVID19 and are 5x to 8x more likely to be hospitalized. Congress needs to act now before more people die! #DoYourJob! #FamiliesDeserveAPlan
• Congress has [insert number] legislative days left to pass #COVID19 legislation before their next recess. #DoYourJob! #FamiliesDeserveAPlan
• “Our message to Congress is clear. #DoYourJob! The House sent a comprehensive #COVID19 package to you in mid-May and you have done nothing! Heavy jobs and health coverage losses are the greatest in reported history.” @standorn #FamiliesDeserveAPlan https://youtu.be/BwGqyAlMlHk
• It has been months since the House passed the #HEROESAct, which includes essential funding for testing & stemming the spread of #COVID19. Politics shouldn’t dictate who gets a #COVID19 test. Science should. People are dying! #DoYourJob! #FamiliesDeserveAPlan
• Kid’s lives have been upended. They’re missing routine Dr. visits, experiencing increased rates of abuse & neglect, affected by the effects of #COVID19-related economic & health struggles. Congress MUST pass comprehensive legislation now! #DoYourJob! #FamiliesDeserveAPlan

Callout Graphics by Topic:

Target GOP Twitter handles for tweets –

Martha McSally (AZ) – @SenMcSallyAZ
Kyrsten Sinema (AZ) – @SenatorSinema
Corey Gardner (CO) – @SenCoryGardner
David Purdue, Kelly Loeffler (GA) – @SenDavidPurdue, @SenatorLoeffler
Joni Ernst (IA) – @SenJoniErnst
Mitch McConnell (KY) – @SenateMajLdr
Thom Tillis (NC) – @SenThomTillis
Lindsey Graham (SC) – @LindseyGrahamSC
Lamar Alexander (TN) – @SenAlexander
John Cornyn (TX) – @JohnCornyn
Susan Collins (MN) – @SenatorCollins
Steve Daines (MT) – @SteveDaines
Lisa Murkowski (AK) – @LisaMurkowski
Bill Cassidy (LA), John Kennedy (LA) – @SenBillCassidy, @SenJohnKennedy
Marco Rubio (FL), Rick Scott (FL) – @MarcoRubio, @SenRickScott
Roger Wicker (MS), Cindy Hyde-Smith (MS) – @SenatorWicker, @SenHydeSmith
Doug Jones (AL), Richard Shelby (AL) – @SenDougJones, @SenShelby

National Graphics:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1XBxbRjzuz7AbcvS44xyU9-5U2EfoQH_r?usp=sharing

Social Copy –

• As of September 7, 2020, 188,513 people in the US have died from #COVID19. Congress must act NOW to save lives! #DoYourJob #FamiliesDeserveAPlan
• As of September 7, 2020, more than 6,261,216 people in the US have contracted #COVID19. Congress must act NOW to protect America’s families from #COVID19! #DoYourJob #FamiliesDeserveAPlan
•  As of September 7, 2020, at least 3,086 US veterans have died from #COVID19. Our veterans fought for us. Now they need Congress to fight for them! #DoYourJob #FamiliesDeserveAPlan
• As of September 7, 2020, Black or African Americans are 2.4x more likely to die from #COVID19 than whites. Congress must act NOW to protect ALL families from #COVID19 #DoYourJob #FamiliesDeserveAPlan
• As of September 7, 2020, Hispanic or Latinx Americans are 1.5x more likely to die from #COVID19 than whites. Congress must act NOW to protect ALL families from #COVID19 #DoYourJob #FamiliesDeserveAPlan
• As of September 7, 2020, American Indians or Alaskan Natives are 1.5x more likely to die from #COVID19 than whites. Congress must act NOW to protect ALL families from #COVID19 #DoYourJob #FamiliesDeserveAPlan
• As of September 2, 2020, at least 134,839 US seniors have died from #COVID19. Congress must act NOW to protect America’s seniors! #COVID19 #DoYourJob #FamiliesDeserveAPlan
• From February to May 2020, as many as 5.4 million workers are becoming uninsured due to job loss. Congress must act NOW to protect families’ health and economic security. #DoYourJob #FamiliesDeserveAPlan
• As many as 2,500,000 jobs are in danger in health care and related industries. Congress must act NOW to protect jobs! #DoYourJob #FamiliesDeserveAPlan

Top five worst-case rate in the country Graphics:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1pf2BLr2_cgejCe4gp3pY1RoCx6ETenIa?usp=sharing

Social Copy –

• .@SenBillCassidy, @SenJohnKennedy, as of September 7, 2020, Louisianna has the WORST case rate in the country: 3,300 cases of #COVID19 per every 100,000 Louisianans. Louisiana’s families need you to act NOW! #DoYourJob #FamiliesDeserveAPlan
• .@MarcoRubio, @SenRickScott, as of September 7, 2020, Florida has the SECOND WORST case rate in the country: 3,001 cases of #COVID19 per every 100,000 Floridians. Florida’s families need you to act NOW! #DoYourJob #FamiliesDeserveAPlan
• .@SenatorWicker, @SenHydeSmith, as of September 7, 2020, Mississippi has the THIRD WORST case rate in the country: 2,917 cases of #COVID19 per every 100,000 Mississippians. Mississippi’s families need you to act NOW! #DoYourJob #FamiliesDeserveAPlan
• .@SenMcSallyAZ, @SenatorSinema, as of September 7, 2020, Arizona has the FOURTH WORST case rate in the country: 2,869 cases of #COVID19 per every 100,000 Arizonans. Arizona’s families need you to act NOW! #DoYourJob #FamiliesDeserveAPlan
• .@SenDougJones, @SenShelby, as of September 7, 2020, Alabama has the FIFTH WORST case rate in the country: 2,707 cases of #COVID19 per every 100,000 Alabamians. Alabama’s families need you to act NOW! #DoYourJob #FamiliesDeserveAPlan

Health care job loss projection Graphics:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1pf2BLr2_cgejCe4gp3pY1RoCx6ETenIa?usp=sharing

Social Copy –

• [insert MOC Twitter Handle] [insert state citizens] healthcare workers need you to act NOW: The Senate MUST pass comprehensive legislation to protect them from #COVID19 #DoYourJob #FamiliesDeserveAPlan
• [insert MOC Twitter Handle], [insert number on graphic] [insert state] jobs are in danger in health care and related industries. #DoYourJob! #FamiliesDeserveAPlan

Workers becoming uninsured Graphics: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1nwRQYcaMUteZnj3wFUKjhnffhFp3B73n?usp=sharing

Social Copy –

• [insert MOC Twitter Handle] hardworking [insert state citizens] need you to act NOW: The Senate MUST pass comprehensive legislation to protect them from #COVID19 #DoYourJob #FamiliesDeserveAPlan
• [insert MOC Twitter Handle], from February to May, [insert number on graphic] [insert state citizens] are becoming uninsured due to job loss. #DoYourJob! #FamiliesDeserveAPlan

Total senior deaths Graphics:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1F9CdDKxvT88xxeDWal1iKYG8F9enC3iX?usp=sharing

Social Copy –

• [insert MOC Twitter Handle] [insert state citizens] need you to act NOW: The Senate MUST pass comprehensive legislation to protect seniors from #COVID19 #DoYourJob #FamiliesDeserveAPlan
• [insert MOC Twitter Handle], as of August 12^th 2020, [insert number on graphic] [insert state citizens] seniors have died from #COVID19. #DoYourJob! #FamiliesDeserveAPlan

Total deaths Graphics:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/11FGXnejK7f7fQX5owawri0j8FgXkqJZX?usp=sharing

Social Copy –

• [insert MOC Twitter Handle] [insert state citizens] need you to act NOW: The Senate MUST pass comprehensive legislation to protect families from #COVID19 #DoYourJob #FamiliesDeserveAPlan
• [insert MOC Twitter Handle], as of August 17^th 2020, [insert number on graphic] [insert state citizens] have died from #COVID19. #DoYourJob! #FamiliesDeserveAPlan

POC deaths Graphics:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1QMfyHs-1iHKEa6xQCe9BijmkPWjONaxF?usp=sharing

Social Copy –

• .@LisaMurkowski, Alaskans need you to act NOW: The Senate MUST pass comprehensive legislation to protect ALL Alaskans from #COVID19. #DoYourJob! #FamiliesDeserveAPlan
• .@LisaMurkowski, as of August 7^th, 2020, Pacific Islander Americans in Alaska are 18.1x more likely to die from #COVID19 than whites. #DoYourJob! #FamiliesDeserveAPlan
• .@LisaMurkowski, as of August 7^th, 2020, American Indians and Alaska Natives are 2.9x more likely to die from #COVID19 than whites. #DoYourJob! #FamiliesDeserveAPlan