 Federal unemployment benefits have been especially vital for Black Americans, whove suffered some of the worst job losses in the pandemic.That argument is helping to sway some in Congress toward keeping the extra payments in place after next months deadline.A wave of protests against racial injustice has shone a spotlight on disparities in the economy, like a Black jobless rate that continued to rise last month even as headline unemployment eased. Early in the pandemic, Congress approved an extra 600 a week in federal unemployment benefits. Theyre due to run out at the end of July -- one of a series of summer dates when crisis-era fiscal props are due to be removed, testing the economys strength. Democrats want to maintain the safety net into 2021, and theyre pointing out that Black Americans -- who are historically slower to get rehired after a slump -- and other minorities will take a disproportionate hit if its allowed to expire. Unemployment among Latinos has also soared higher than the headline rate.Many Republicans have opposed further fiscal spending, calling for a halt to allow some 3 trillion of measures already approved by Congress more time to juice the economy. They have also been critical of unemployment payouts as a disincentive for employees to return to their jobs. Republican Senator Rob Portman is pushing a plan that would redirect stimulus into a 450-a-week return-to-work bonus. But in recent weeks, as calls for racial justice intensified, the views of some in the GOP -- in Congress and President Donald Trumps administration -- have shifted.Trumps top economic advisers have acknowledged that such policies are needed in particular as a protection for minority communities. Whatever we do to stimulate the economy right now, including expanding or continuing in some form unemployment... 