Speak Out Now to Preserve Unemployment Benefits

Tell your representatives to preserve federal unemployment benefits

Tell your representatives that unemployment benefits are good for workers and good for the economy.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Extend Federal Unemployment Insurance

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

Unemployment benefits are the "first line of defense" for jobless workers and our economy. After May 31st, the federal program of extended unemployment benefits is scheduled to run out despite today's rising long-term unemployment.

Extended unemployment benefits protect long-term jobless workers, and they help stimulate the struggling economy.

Unless you, your colleagues, and the President act now to save the program, more than two million unemployed workers will not be able to collect any extended jobless benefits over the next six months.

Already, more than 2.8 million workers have run out of the 13-week federal extension. At the same time, more and more workers are running out of state unemployment benefits. And there's no reprieve in sight, as long-term unemployed keeps rising, now totaling 1.8 million workers. That's almost 500,000 more than when the federal extension began in March 2002.

Until the economy starts producing enough jobs again, America's workers and their families deserve better. Congress and the President should continue the federal extension of jobless benefits for six months, and longer if necessary. In addition, as literally millions of workers keep running out of their 13-week federal extensions, the time has come to increase the number of weeks of extended benefits. All workers, including those who have run out of the federal extension, should be entitled to collect at least 26 weeks of federal jobless benefits, similar to the help provided to jobless workers during the last recession.

More than $26 billion is available to pay for federal unemployment, much more than is needed to cover the costs of fixing the program. Please act now to continue and expand the program of federal jobless benefits.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
May 06, 2003

Background Information

Unemployment benefits are good for workers and good for the economy. They are the “first line of defense” protecting today’s workers laid off as a result of the recession and helping to boost the economy in those areas hit hardest by unemployment.

However, that will all change unless Congress and the President act now to fix the federal extension of unemployment benefits. Otherwise, after May 31st, the federal program of extended unemployment benefits is scheduled to end. If the program is not continued for another six months, more than two million workers will not be able to collect any extra jobless benefits.

America’s laid off workers and their families deserve better. Get involved so that today’s unemployed workers get the help they deserve to pay their bills and find new work in today’s rough labor market. Make sure that federal jobless benefits continue until at least November 2003 and improve the program so that workers can collect at least 26 weeks of additional unemployment benefits as provided to many jobless workers during the last recession.

Take action now!