Oregon Senator Ron Wyden joined Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and a group of other Senators to introduce a bill that would retroactively extend the $600 weekly federal boost to unemployment insurance benefits through October 2021.  The American Worker Holiday Relief Act would also tie the additional weeks of federal benefits and new Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program for gig and freelance workers to economic conditions on the ground.   The additional weeks of federal benefits and the program for gig and freelance workers would not expire as long as the three month average national unemployment rate is above 5.5 percent, and will stay available longer in states where unemployment remains high.  The bill would add 26 weeks of federal benefits for workers receiving traditional unemployment insurance.  Wyden said the bill is designed to provide relief for workers who are hanging by a thread.