It appears that many cash-strapped Americans already have accepted the fact that they won’t be able to rely on a fourth round of coronavirus stimulus checks to help meet their basic everyday needs amid the pandemic.

But know that doesn’t mean everyone has given up hope—as there are several prominent Washington lawmakers and millions of ordinary citizens who have banded together in an effort to make a fourth or even a fifth round of stimulus a reality.

Also, do take note that the White House has not yet definitively said no to another round. During a speech before Congress about a month ago, it is true that President Joe Biden didn’t press for more stimulus but he also didn’t directly rule it out either.

And more recently, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki was asked during a press briefing about future payments—and like the president, she was only noncommittal. “We’ll see what members of Congress propose, but those are not free,” she said.

It appears, however, that slowly but surely, an increasing number of Washington lawmakers is finally hearing the calls of desperate Americans forced to scrap by on a daily basis.

For example, members of the influential House Ways and Means Committee sent off a letter to the president urging him to add recurring payments in his American Families Plan. In all, at least eighty Democrats in Congress—in addition to Vice President Kamala Harris—are fully backing such direct payments. 

“The pandemic has served as a stark reminder that families and workers need certainty in a crisis,” the lawmakers wrote.

“They deserve to know they can put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads,” they added.

Over the past several months, other notable lawmakers who have voiced their support include Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, and Rep. Ilhan Omar.

“A one-time payment of $2,000 is simply not enough,” Omar said back in January. “The American people are counting on us to deliver transformative change, and we need to meet the moment by delivering monthly payments of $2,000.”

Take note that such demands for $2,000 monthly checks have become the focal point of a petition that was launched by Colorado restaurant owner Stephanie Bonin. It already has garnered more than 2.3 million signatures.

“I’m calling on Congress to support families with a $2,000 payment for adults and a $1,000 payment for kids immediately, and continuing regular checks for the duration of the crisis,” the petition states.

“I am one of millions of Americans who fear for my financial future because of this coronavirus crisis. With businesses and schools closing across the country to control the spread of this virus, many people have already lost their jobs. Others are being forced to stay home. This is catastrophic for working families like mine,” it continues.

Ethen Kim Lieser is a Minneapolis-based Science and Tech Editor who has held posts at Google, The Korea Herald, Lincoln Journal Star, AsianWeek, and Arirang TV. Follow or contact him on LinkedIn.