Unemployedworkers.org BLOG Archive

Senate Fails to Extend Jobless Benefits: Obstruction Puts Nearly One Million at Risk of Losing Jobless Benefits in April (March 26, 2010)

Friends, We are extremely sorry to have to tell you that Congress will go into recess without passing the 30 day extension of the UI and COBRA programs, and that it appears extremely unlikely that the Senate will be called back into session for a vote before April 5th, when the programs expire. We just learned that the Senate has scheduled a cloture vote (a vote to end debate on the bill – they must get 60 votes to move forward) for 5:30 pm on Monday, April 12th, at which time they’ll try to move the 30 day extension through as quickly as possible. Simultaneously, and we hope over the recess as well, they will be working with the House to resolve some differences in the bill that would extend these programs through the end of 2010. We are hoping that year-end extension will be firmly in place long before the end of April.

We wish we had better news for you. We have been in close contact with many of the state UI agencies and the organization that unites them all and they will be working diligently to get their programs back up and running as quickly as possible once Congress acts. We hope that for those of you who face a disruption in benefits that it will be short-lived.

A few things to remember:

· If you are in the middle of a tier of benefits, you will be able to remain on that tier and finish it out before you benefits lapse. We hope that this lapse is so short lived that a minimal number of people are impacted, though we know for those who lose benefits, the impact will be great.

· When the programs are reinstated, they will be retroactive so you will eventually receive every bit of benefits you would have had the programs not lapsed. We know that for many of you the disruption is devastating even if retroactive, so we do not mean to minimize the impact, but wanted you to all know that benefits will be retroactive.

Again, we are sorry to have to deliver this news and look forward to updating you with better news as soon as Congress re-convenes in April

Senate Continues to Stall on Filing Deadline Extension. Contact Your Senators NOW! (March 26, 2010)

Friends – as the great Yogi Berra once said, “It’s like déjà vu all over again.” Last month, Senator Jim Bunning (R-KY) blocked the UI/COBRA extension, and this month, Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) is playing the role of the bad guy. Recognizing that Senator Coburn is not likely to back down, last night, Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) filed a motion for cloture on the next 30 day extension bill, and put the Senate into a “conditional adjournment,” meaning that he can call everyone back into town as late as next Wednesday to vote on the bill and make sure the programs don’t lapse.

Once again, it is time for you to either call or email your Senators and demand that they finish this important business before finally recessing for the holidays. You can find all the appropriate contacts for your Senators on their websites, all of which are standard: http://[last name of senator]/senate.gov. Tell them to stay in town or get back to town and finish their work before they celebrate their holidays and recess and then ask everyone you know to do the same.

We will keep you updated as things progress.

The Deadline to Extend UI and COBRA Programs Before They Expire is Fast Approaching (Again) (March 22, 2010)

Here we are again – the deadline is approaching for the UI and COBRA programs to end, and Congress has yet to fully reauthorize the program. After the success in the Senate a few weeks ago, where they extended the filing deadline of the program through the end of the year, we have experienced some setbacks and are, again, hoping to pass another 30 day extension of the filing deadline.

Here is what happened: although the Senate passed a year-long extension of the filing deadline, it did so as part of a larger bill containing “tax extenders,” provisions of the tax code that lapsed at the end of the last year that the Senate wanted to extend into 2010. The problem is that those extenders were offset with revenue raising measures that the House had already set aside for the health care bill. So the House could not pass the Senate version of the bill, and late last week, passed another 30 day extension of the filing deadline of the UI and COBRA programs so they wouldn’t lapse. The plan is to then deal with the longer extension of the filing deadline once the Health Care bill fully clears Congress.

The Senate is planning to spend virtually the whole week working on Health Care – although the House passed the Senate bill last night, they are now turning to some “fixes” the House has passed in addition to the bill, and hoping to do it in the context of the Budget. Unfortunately, this will take up virtually all of the floor time this week and then both Houses are on recess until April 12. Thus, the Senate HAS to pass the 30 day extension of the filing deadline via “unanimous consent” which doesn’t mean that everyone in the Senate needs to vote for the bill, but that everyone in the Senate needs to agree that it should have a vote. ONE Senator can hold up the whole process – that’s what we saw Senator Jim Bunning of Kentucky do a few weeks ago. Senator Reid of Nevada tried to move the extension like this last Friday, but was blocked by Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona who stated that because not all Republicans were on the floor, he would not agree to the vote. He expressed optimism that the bill would pass this week and we need your help to make that happen.

We cannot afford to let one rogue senator block this bill – the program lapsed just for a short time a few weeks ago and states were able to keep things up and running. But because of the Congressional recess, if the programs aren’t reauthorized THIS WEEK, they will lapse for at least a week and the state agencies will not be able to keep things running as smoothly this time. That will lead to delays in people getting their checks.

All of you should contact your Senators and DEMAND that they extend the filing deadline pass the extension of UI and COBRA this week so that the programs don’t lapse. But in particular, if your Senators are Republicans, it is especially important that you contact them and make it clear to them that they cannot play games with this program and with your lives. The time is NOW – You can dial your Senator toll-free by calling 1-888-245-0215. You must act so that the Senate knows that it too, must act NOW.

What does this mean for you?
-This new 30 day extension of the filing deadline does not add additional weeks of benefits to the UI program
-This new 30 day extension of the filing deadline will permit individuals that exhaust regular state benefits after March 28, 2010 to move on and collect federal benefits
-This new 30 day extension of the filing deadline will permit individuals that exhaust a tier of federal benefits after April 4, 2010 to move to the next tier of federal benefits already in law

If you have additional questions, please visit our Ask the Expert Page.

Senate Passes Jobs Bill Extending Federally Funded Programs Through 2010 (March 10, 2010)

Yesterday, by a vote of 66-34, the Senate achieved cloture (ie, end of debate) on its current Jobs Bill, the one that includes and extension of the present UI and COBRA programs through the end of 2010. All Democrats except for Ben Nelson of Nebraska voted in favor of cloture, and the following Republicans voted in favor of cloture: Brown (MA), Collins (ME), Snowe (ME), Isakson (GA), Chambliss (GA), Murkowski (AK), Voinovich (OH), and Cochran (MS).

Today, the Senate voted on the final bill and 62 Senators (we do not have the roll call yet) voted in favor of the bill – it has passed and is on its way to the House of Representatives and we hope that passage, and any resolution of House/Senate differences (if any) will be swift. The President will sign the bill as soon as it’s presented to him.

This means that the EUC program, full federal funding of EB, the $25 extra in UI benefits each week, and the COBRA subsidty will in almost certainty continue, without interruption, through the end of 2010.

This would NOT have been possible without all of you taking action in the many ways you have these last few months. Your elected officials have heard loud and clear that they CANNOT play politics with these benefits – they are too important to too many families across the country. So we thank each of you who sent an email, made a phone call, or otherwise communicated with your elected officials because if it weren’t for all of you, we would not be on the cusp of such a great victory.
What’s next?
As many of you have noted, this bill does not add any weeks of benefits to the EUC program. Unfortunately, the Senate was not willing to consider an expansion of the program while still trying to continue the basic benefits through the end of the year. NELP is working on an effort to directly address the historic needs of the long-term unemployed, including extra weeks of benefits, targeted job creation programs and other helpful measures.
Job Creation
Throughout the year, Congress will continue to grapple with the ways in which it can help create more jobs. Today, Congressman George Miller (D-CA), Chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, is introducing a bill that would spend $100 billion on public job creation – jobs in education, law enforcement and public safety, and other jobs that provide needed local services to communities hard hit by job loss. NELP is fully supportive of this legislation, which if passed, will save or create 1 million jobs. As soon as it is introduced, we will put up links to the bill and any press releases about it.

So, we’re likely to pass another hurdle today, but we’re aware that there are many more to go – until all unemployed workers have the safety net they deserve, and more importantly, until they are all back to work, you can be assured that NELP will be fighting tooth and nail for all the help possible.

 

February Job Losses Keep Long Term Unemployment Sky High (March 5, 2010)

• February’s unemployment rate remained at 9.7 percent
• Over 14.8 million are Americans out of work.
• 36,000 jobs were lost last month alone.
• 6.1 million workers are with out a job for more than 26 weeks – this represents 40.9 percent of all unemployed.
• The average duration of unemployment is now 29.7 weeks, or nearly 7 months.

The figures above, released in the Department of Labor’s February employment report, paint a grim but clear picture of an unrelenting long-term unemployment crisis. With over 11 million people receiving benefits, NELP is urging Congress to pass UI and COBRA extension through the end of 2010. Although the 30-day stopgap measure passed by Congress provides some short-term relief to worried workers, with out a year-long extension, American families will no longer be able to count on the safety net they so desperately need during these tough economic times.

“Today’s jobs report demonstrates the high stakes of the political tug-of-war over unemployment benefits that broke out last week. With over 14.8 million Americans out of work, we need to resume a long-term strategy for fighting long-term unemployment. Congress must extend benefits through the end of 2010. While the 30-day measure approved this week was a necessary stopgap, workers will be struggling with long-term joblessness long after those 30 days are up. ” -Christine Owens, Executive Director of NELP

Read more

Senate Passes Month-Long Extension of Jobless Benefits (March 3, 2010)

Tuesday night the Senate passed H.R. 4691, extending unemployment benefits through April 5 in a 78-19 vote. President Obama has already signed the bill, putting the month-long extension into effect. We urge you to continue to certify for your benefits. From what we have heard, there should be minimal delays in getting back onto the EUC program, as the lapse in benefits was relatively short.

Additionally, we are pleased to report that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is already planning to call on Congress to extend benefits through the end of the year. Hopefully they have realized that not doing so will continue to cause further interruptions to benefit payments that are a lifeline in times where long-term unemployment continues at staggering levels.

We will touch base with you soon on the next steps in the campaign. In the mean time, be sure to check our blog daily for the most recent updates!

Over 200,000 to Lose Jobless Benefits This Week (March 2, 2010)

Last week in Washington, Republic Senator Jim Bunning of Kentucky single handedly held up important Senate action. Bunning’s actions led to a failure to extend unemployment insurance and a lapse in benefit payment for over 200,000 jobless workers. As a result, NELP is urging Congress to act swiftly to extend jobless benefits through the end of 2010. Doing so will prevent any further interruptions to benefit payments and guarantee a lifeline for the jobless as long-term unemployment continues at staggering levels. If congress continues to delay action any further NELP estimates that up to 1.2 million will lose the safety net they so desperately need to survive the trying times of our current economy. Read the rest of NELPs analysis here

Last week in Washington, Republican Senator Jim Bunning of Kentucky single handedly held up important Senate action. Bunning’s actions led to a failure to extend Please join us in the fight to convince Congress that reinstating unemployment benefits is a top priority not only for the millions of unemployed workers who depend on them, but for the economic security of our country as a whole.

Here's a way to take IMMEDIATE ACTION and demand that the Senate take stop withholding benefits for families:

The Coalition on Human Needs has started an online petition and they need you - as an individual - to sign it! They are working with many other organizations to circulate the petition widely; and you can help by forwarding it to your lists, your friends and family. Every day lobbyists descend on the Capitol seeking help for special interests. Who will stand up for the jobless? We must, together, and put a stop to this shameful delay!

 

Senate Fails to Pass 30 Day Stop Gap: An Estimated 1.2 Million Workers Will Lose Benefits in March (February 26, 2010)

Provisions of last year's stimulus bill that allow extra weeks of unemployment benefits and COBRA health coverage are set to expire on February 28th. The Senates failure to pass the 30-day stop gap measure will result in the premature lapse of benefits for an estimated 1.2 Million of America's unemployed workers. Republican Senator Jim Bunning (Kentucky), taking an UNTIMELY stand against the national defecit, is now single handedly responsible for blocking Senate action-leaving millions of America's unemployed without the lifeline the need for survival.

"What happened last night was an absolute disgrace. There is a time and a place and purpose for debate on deficit reduction, but you don't take your stand on the back of the unemployed." -Judy Conti (NELP lobbyist)

Read more

Here's What You Can Do:

Continue to take action! Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is calling for an extension of UI Benefits and COBRA subsidies through the end of the year. Continue to call and write Congress, urge them to act now and reauthorize these crucial programs and support through 2010. Let them know that they MUST do the right thing for America's workers! Your economic security and the economic stimulus these benefits provide to your communities are too important to lose!

We’ll update you as soon as we know anything else. In the meantime, please keep the calls and emails going!

NELP Calls for Immediate Passage of 30-Day Stopgap for 1.2 Million at Risk of Losing Benefits (February 25, 2010)

Friends – We want to leave you with the latest update on the extension efforts in DC along with an URGENT call to action between today and tomorrow.

As of yesterday, the Senate was looking to pass a 30-day stopgap measure in efforts to ensure that there is no lapse in unemployment benefit payments. This is a major priority for millions of you who could lose a viable safety net in this tough economy without swift Congressional action. We are well aware that the 30-day extension isn’t a long-term solution to the current economic crisis, but we were pleased that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced that after this stopgap, he would do his part to press for an unemployment benefit extension through December of this year along with legislation slated to help long-term unemployed workers. Reid’s second course of action involved suggesting a full-year extension of unemployment insurance and a 65% COBRA subsidy. Find out more about Reid’s plans here.

Last night, Senator Harry Reid’s attempt to move a 30 day extension of UI and COBRA was met with an objection by Senator Jim Bunning (R-KY), who complained that the 30 day extension would not be paid for with another offset. Today, however, Senator Jon Kyl’s (R-AZ) office is telling people that they are holding up the extension as leverage to get a further repeal of the estate tax. Right now, the 1.2 million workers who will lose benefits in March, as well as their families and their communities, are being held hostage by partisan attempts to gain an advantage for the families of deceased multi-millionaires.

YOU DESERVE BETTER THAN THIS. And the Senate needs to know this. They are running out of time to get this extension done, and the House of Representatives needs to still take action as well. We need you to call your Senators, from whatever party, and tell them to get this done. We also need you to contact the Senate Republican Leadership, Senators McConnell (R-KY), (202) 224-2541, and Kyl, (202) 224-4521, and let them know that this kind of obstructionism cannot be tolerated at a moment of such crisis for so many.

We’ll update you as soon as we know anything else. In the meantime, please keep the calls and emails going!

Reid Calls for an Extension of Unemployment Insurance Benefits Through 2010 (February 24, 2010)

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced yesterday that he would do his part to press for an unemployment benefit extension through December of this year with portions of legislation slated to help long-term unemployed workers. With the February 28 deadline looming Reid is hoping to first pass a 30 day extension of programs set to expire at the end of the month. This is a major priority for millions of you who could lose a viable safety net in this tough economy without swift Congressional action. Then, we’ve been told, Reid’s second course of action involves suggesting a full-year extension of unemployment insurance and a 65% COBRA subsidy. Find out more about Reid’s plans and the challenges he might face here.

Call on Congress to Immediately Extend Jobless Benefits Through 2010! (February 19, 2010)

After delays due to inclement weather and a week of recess, Congress comes back into session on Monday, February 22. It is now up to us to make sure that extension of UI benefits and the COBRA subsidy through 2010 is their FIRST priority.

As many of you know, the House has passed reauthorization of the federal extensions, COBRA subsidies, and additional $25 in every weekly check - which is all set to expire at the end of February - until June of this year. The Senate failed to act before Congress went on recess, and now has ONE WEEK left before the expiration of federal UI provisions. We are urging Congress to make sure these measures are in place until the end of the year, and need your immediate help.

Congress must pass a stand-alone extension bill immediately. Since Congress failed to extend these important benefits before Friday, February 19, 2010, state unemployment offices have started sending out notices to claimants that their benefits are expiring, and are reprogramming their computer systems to shut down with EUC, EB and FAC benefits. Congress has ONE WEEK to make reauthorization happens so that you do not face a disruption in your benefits. We need to make sure that Congress knows that we won't allow these important programs to be used as "must pass" legislation every few months, and be held hostage to political processes that can spin out of control because of forces of nature or partisan games. YOU should NOT be the victims of blizzards, political schedules, or any other D.C. dynamics.

We need your help - Please take action and urge your member of Congress to act now and reauthorize a stand-alone version of these crucial unemployment extensions and support before they run out on February 28th. Let them know that they need to do the right thing-- pass the UI and COBRA extensions through the end of 2010, and do so as soon as they get back into session. Your economic security and the economic stimulus these benefits provide to your communities are too important to lapse again for any reason.

We will be sure to update you at least once a week, or more frequently if there are issues we need to bring to your attention. If you have any questions or want to get more involved in this campaign, please visit http://www.unemployedworkers.org or email us at unemployedworkers.org@gmail.com .

Thanks again for everything you have already done.

Make Your Voice Heard in Washington, Congress Must Extend UI & Cobra Benefits Now! (February 16, 2010)

Friends -- as you know, Congress was not able to take action on the UI and COBRA extensions last week, and they are on recess this week. Their failure to take action before recess has some drastic consequences that we want to explain to you both to let you know the gravity of their failure to act, but also, to hopefully calm some of the anxiety you may be feeling about the extension.

First, the federal UI programs are currently authorized through February 28th. However, the state agencies that administer the UI programs are obligated to start processing and mailing letters to the many workers who will start running out of benefits as of March 1, notifying them that their benefits will be ceasing. Unfortunately, they cannot wait until next week when Congress returns into session to start sending out these letters. So those of you who will complete a tier of benefits in March may start seeing those letters. We know this will cause anxiety and confusion and since early January have made this painfully clear to Congressional leaders. If you get one of these letters, you should, of course, be worried, but it may be that the programs will not lapse in spite of these letters going out.

The state UI agencies are working to come up with plans and strategies to keep their programs up and running as long as they possibly can into the week of February 22nd, giving Congress the chance to act quickly to extend these programs, but it's impossible for us to give you any detailed information on what they are doing and how long they can wait to act. But Congress is aware of the time pressures and is figuring out what to do about it.

Last week, Senate Majority Leader Reid proposed a one-week extension, as a stop-gap measure, but Minority Leader McConnell objected to that. The state UI agencies, NELP and many of our national and state allies have made it clear that one week is unacceptable. It is time to stop playing games with these UI programs, holding them hostage as vehicles on which to move other pieces of legislation. We have called for Congress to move year-long UI and COBRA extensions as stand alone legislation as soon as Congress reconvenes and will be spending the rest of this week and as much of next week as necessary working to make that a reality.

We ask that you keep up the calls to your Senators and Representatives using our action alert, letting them know that you need more than stop-gap, temporary measures. You need an extension that keeps pace with the scope of the jobs crisis and cannot be held hostage to the legislative process.

As we learn more, we'll continue to post updates.

NELP Calls on Congress, as its FIRST Order of Business to Pass a Stand-Alone UI and COBRA Extensions Through the End of 2010 (February 11, 2010) 

Friends-- as we reported yesterday, the House and Senate have canceled all votes for this week, and are on recess next week. They will come back into session on Monday, February 22nd. The UI and COBRA programs don't officially expire until February 28th, but that date is deceiving. Because Congress will not have this program officially reauthorized by February 19th, state UI offices are going to have to start sending out notices to people whose benefits will terminate in March. The agencies have no choice but to do so as these notices are required by law and regulations from the Department of Labor. We are in close contact with the association of state UI offices and Congressional Leadership and we are working to find a way to minimize the disruption and confusion that is inevitable.

What this whole experience proves is that last December, when we were all calling for the program to be reauthorized through the end of 2010, we were right to do so. A blizzard and Congressional recess have derailed this extension; who knows what could derail the next one. Short-term extensions are NOT the answer to the very real problem of long-term joblessness in this country, and Congress's inability to enact a sufficiently long extension is going to have fairly dire consequences for families and the communities in which they live.

So we are calling on Congress to sever/separate the UI and COBRA extensions from the series of jobs bills that are planned for the year. Indeed, as a bi-partisan press release from Senators Baucus (D-MT) and Grassley (R-IA) makes clear, the Senate intends to allow for a full deliberative process on the first jobs bill. Unfortunately, the million-plus jobless workers and their families who rely on the UI and COBRA programs scheduled to expire at the end of February do not have the luxury of waiting for this full deliberation, and indeed, there is no need for them to do so -- there is no public opposition to the programs’ extension whatsoever.

We are calling on Congress, as its FIRST order of business upon resuming work on February 22nd, to pass a stand-alone UI and COBRA extension through the end of 2010. We cannot allow these important programs to be used as "must pass" legislation every few months, and be held hostage to political processes that can spin out of control because of forces of nature or partisan games. YOU should NOT be the victims of blizzards, political schedules, or any other D.C. dynamics. And that is the message NELP and our allies are going to be delivering loudly and consistently.

We need your help -- call your Senators and Representatives -- let them know that they need to do the right thing-- pass the UI and COBRA extensions through the end of 2010, and do so as soon as they get back into session.  Your economic security and the economic stimulus these benefits provide to your communities are too important to lapse again for any reason.

Inclement Weather in DC Causes Timing Crunch for Extension Campaign. Contact your Senators Now! (February 10, 2010)

Friends—

First, a reminder to call your members of Congress TODAY as part of the Jobs for America National Day of Action. Click here to participate.

As for our update - as you no doubt know, Washington, D.C. is being hit with another 2 feet of snow today, accompanied by blizzard winds making the snow removal process even harder than usual. Everything is at a stand-still. The House of Representatives has already called off work for the rest of the week, and while the Senate holds out some faint hope of a session on Friday, that's probably optimistic at best. As of now, both Houses plan to be on recess next week which means that the UI extension probably won't be considered until the week of February 22nd, just before the February 28th deadline.

The Senate leadership put out bill yesterday that includes a three-month extension of the current program, and they are trying to make sure that the UI and COBRA programs don't lapse. But the timing is very difficult unless one or both Houses is willing to forego some or all of their recess week. In the meantime, we are also in close contact with the administrators of the state agencies that run the UI programs to figure out how to minimize disruption and delay of benefits for the long-term unemployed if Congress doesn't pass the extension by February 19th, which is when the states have to start sending out notices and reprogramming their computers to implement the February 28th deadline.

Suffice it to say, we share your frustration and outrage. Had Congress done what it needed to do in December, and extend these programs through the end of the year, this wouldn't be a problem. And as the House has had, in effect, a recess this week, we believe that they should come into session next week long enough to pass the Senate jobs bill, assuming the Senate can get it done this week. That is precisely what we are calling on Congress to do -- and we are rallying our community of national advocates to do the same.

This would be a good week for you to reach out to your Senators and Representatives in their HOME offices in your state -- let them know that because they only passed a 2 month extension in December, they are now in quite a predicament because of the weather. They need to do whatever they have to in order to make sure this program doesn't lapse. And equally important, it's all the more reason they need to get serious about supporting the long-term unemployed and pass an extension of the UI and COBRA programs through the end of the year so that no other act of nature or political complication can delay or derail the support you need.

Google your Senators and Representatives -- their websites will have the phone numbers for their home offices, as well as email forms you can fill out with your complaints and demands. Take action today and please ask your friends and family to do the same.

DC Snow Storm Affects UI Extension Campaign (February 8 2010)

Friends -- as you've probably heard on the news, DC got well over 2 feet of snow over the weekend and is predicted to get upward of 10 more inches on Tuesday/Wednesday. For those of you in much of the country, this isn't an extreme amount of snow, but it has virtually paralyzed DC. The federal government was closed on Monday, will be closed on Tuesday, and the likelihood of closing on Wednesday is high.

We are doing out best to get through to Leadership offices in Congress to find out the plan for getting the UI/COBRA extensions done but so far, have nothing to report. We will be calling on Congress to stay in session as long as necessary for it to take care of this important business and we ask that you participate in the national call-in day in order to make your message heard

As soon as we know anything more, we will post an update

National Day of Action: Don’t Let Congress Cut Off The Lifelines of Our Communities (February 8, 2010)

Dear Friends-

Below is the link to the landing page for Jobs for America Now National Call in Day which will take place on Wednesday, Feb 10 2010.  Everyone is feeling the pinch. If Congress doesn’t provide fiscal relief to states who are experiencing greater demands for services and reduced revenue, jobs will continue to be cut. At the same time, millions of people out of work could lose benefits and hundreds of thousands of related jobs could be lost. Tell Congress to get states and local governments the relief they need and don’t let unemployment benefits expire on February 28. Click here to take part in a National Day of Action organized by Jobs for America Now. Let's send a united message to Congress that they must act now!

Extension Campaign Heats Up, Urgent Action Needed! (February 2, 2010)

Friends – we have a lot to report this week, as there is action on many fronts, most of it very positive.
The Extension Heats Up
The First and foremost, as we have previously reported, the Senate is acutely aware of the need to make sure that the federal UI programs (EUC, EB and the extra $25 per week) and the COBRA subsidy are extended beyond February 28. 2010. Because of the Congressional schedule and the needs of the state agencies who administer these programs, Congress will need to pass an extension of these programs by February 12 at the latest – less than 2 weeks from now. Party Leaders have signaled that they will make sure these programs don’t lapse, but your Senators still need to hear from you on at least a weekly basis. Make your voice heard by participating in our Action Alert here. Please share this action alert widely with your friends, family and other networks of people concerned with the plight of the unemployed.

The Message: Your Senators need to know:
· how important it is to extend these programs through the end of 2010 because we all know that unemployment will remain high throughout the rest of the year;
· that you need the certainty of this safety net for the rest of this year;
· that there is NO BETTER economic stimulus for the communities in which you live and that the benefits you receive and spend will both save and create jobs.
· And for those of you nearing exhaustion of all levels of your benefits, they need to know that once this extension is passed, they will need to address the issue of adding more weeks for the most long-term of the unemployed.

Key Senators: There are a few Senators who, while supportive of an unemployment extension, have signaled their unease with extending the benefits for too long if they are not paid for by a corresponding tax increase or budget reduction. They are Senators Bayh (D-IN), McCaskill (D-MO), Feingold (D-WI), and Nelson (D-NE). If you live in one of those states, or know people who do and are sympathetic to our cause, it is very important that they realize that as costly as these extensions are, the costs of doing nothing or not doing enough are far greater. In addition to what it will mean for families if these benefits aren’t extended, failure to adequately extend unemployment benefits could result in the loss of up to 800,000 jobs this year according to the Economic Policy Institute. It will mean an increase in the foreclosure crisis, that could stall our very fragile economic recovery. While their concerns about deficit spending are valid, placing those concerns in direct competition with the UI extension is misplaced and dangerous.

It is also important for people to contact the members of the Senate Leadership who are most directly in charge of moving this effort – Senators Reid (D-NV), Baucus (D-MT), Durbin (D-IL), Dorgan (D-ND) and Schumer (D-NY). They are all on your side and want to do a full-year extension – but can still use added prodding from their constituents so that they don’t get pressured by those who would rather do less. Make sure they know how important it is for them to fight for you and not back down.

New Action Alert: This campaign will be in high gear this week and next and we will post updates as soon as we have anything more to tell you. Among other things, we are working closely with the Jobs for American Now campaign which will likely be holding a day of action early next week. We will be sure to let you know how you can participate in that day.

The President’s Budget
In other news, on Monday, the Obama Administration released its proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2011 (October 1, 2010 – September 31, 2011). In that budget, close to $50 billion million is allocated for UI benefits extensions (http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/fy2011/assets/lab.pdf), and also allocated funds necessary to cover the 15-month COBRA subsidy for workers who lost their jobs prior to January 1, 2011 (http://www.treas.gov/offices/tax-policy/library/greenbk10.pdf <http://www.treas.gov/offices/tax-policy/library/greenbk10.pdf> ). Although the funding for the extensions should have been greater for the measure to last through the end of the year, the President’s budget signals This signals strong support for unemployed workers and the extension from the Administration and now puts the burden on Congress to do the right thing.

New Housing Legislation
Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) is also working hard on behalf of unemployed workers. He introduced the Homeowners’ Relief and Neighborhood Stabilization Act, which would provide $3 billion in loans for the unemployed and underemployed who are struggling to keep up with their mortgage payments. You can find out more about this bill by clicking here.

New Debit Card Protections
Finally, many people have begun receiving UI benefits via a prepaid debit card over the last year or so. In general, NELP believes that this is a good option for many workers, especially those who do not have bank accounts, but that workers should be given a choice of whether to get benefits via check, direct deposit, or debit card, and if the debit cards are used by states, then they need to contain adequate consumer protections to make sure that the banks issuing the cards don’t charge unfair fees for the services offered. We have partnered with a few other organizations to help design a bill introduced by Congressman Sander Levin (D-MI), H.R. 4522, The Benefit Card Fairness Act), that would make sure these cards are used only voluntarily and would have adequate consumer protections. You can find the full text of the bill at this here.

NELP Clarifies its Position on the Current Extension Campaign and the Continued Fight for Additional EUC (January 28, 2009)

Friends --

We wanted to clarify our posting from earlier this week and apologize for a misimpression it created. As we have been updating you on the status of the most recent campaign to extend the program of federal UI and COBRA benefits now available only through 2/28/10, many of you who are near to exhausting all UI benefits presently available have asked if there is any talk of adding more weeks of benefits. In an attempt to answer your questions, our response was too cursory and glib and, unfortunately, wrongly gave the impression to some that we are not and will not be fighting for more weeks of EUC. We are sorry for creating that impression, and regret any feelings of anger and abandonment it generated.

Let us be very clear -- we are here fighting for all of you every day, from the recently unemployed, to those who have just started their federal extensions, to those who are close to exhausting all benefits presently available. We will not stop fighting for each and every one of you and with your help, we will do our very best to obtain the most robust set of benefits and protections that you all need in this catastrophic economy. We value each and every one of you -- the support you've given these campaigns; the support you've given each other. Most of all, we value your guidance, ideas and your trust.

So let us give you a bit more detail so you understand what we are doing, when we are doing it and why we are doing it:

First, if the federal UI benefits and programs (EUC, full funding of EB and the extra $25 per week) aren't extended beyond February 28th, a campaign for extra weeks of benefits will be moot -- there will be no program at all, and while those of you in the middle of a tier of benefits on the 28th would be able to finish out that tier, no one could move up to a new tier, and in March alone, over 1 million people would cease to have any benefits at all. Those numbers compound in the coming months, and next week, NELP will release a report detailing just how devastating it would be for these programs to expire. That’s why getting the programs continued beyond February 28th has to be the first order of business: The programs are the foundation everything is built upon, and if they expire, everything falls apart.

We have also been working with a very tight schedule here in DC. Congress did not come back into session until last week, couple that with the State of the Union Address and all that it entails, the Senate has yet to formally take up this issue, though much is going on behind the scenes. In addition, the Senate recesses the week of February 15th, and because the states need adequate time to keep their EUC programs up and running, in effect, this legislation needs to be passed by February 12, 2010 if the programs are going to continue without any major interruption. Given the consequences for all unemployed workers if the program expires—that NO ONE will have any safety net beyond their states benefits, regardless of how long they have been unemployed—the immediate priority has to be getting the program reauthorized so it doesn’t lapse.

At the same time we are working to be sure the program is reauthorized, we are reaching out to key members of Congress about adding more weeks to EUC, aggressively looking to find the champion for this next fight. We know this is going to be an uphill battle, as all these extension fights are. But NELP is working on this right now and we have no intention of giving up on this effort or on any of you.

Our updates will likely start coming more frequently, as will our requests for action on your part. We keep hearing from key Senate offices that constituents need to make more noise -- your Senators NEED to hear from you ASAP and know how urgent it is to give unemployed workers the safety net they need and deserve. So please do contact your Senators' offices ASAP, and keep doing so every day until your needs are met.

Extention of Federal UI Benefits and COBRA Have a Promising First Week in Washington, Here's What You Can Do To Help.... (January 26, 2010)

We are pleased to report that the campaign to extend the federal and federally funded UI benefits and the COBRA subsidy had a very promising first week. As the Senate went back into session, 32 Democratic Senators, well over half of the non-Leadership members of the caucus signed a letter to the Senate Democratic Leadership calling on them to extend UI benefits (the EUC program, full funding of EBs, and the additional $25 per week in benefits) and the COBRA subsidy through the end of 2010. In that letter, they also asked for a meeting with Leadership to discuss the matter.

The effort was coordinated and led by Senators Casey (PA), Reed (RI), Harkin (IA), Dodd (CT), Brown (OH), and Franken (MN). Joining them were Senators Shaheen (NH), Levin (MI), Stabenow (MI), Leahy (VT), Sanders (VT), Specter (PA), Kaufman (DE), Boxer (CA), Feinstein (CA), Whitehouse (RI), Wyden (OR), Merkely (OR), Kerry (MA), Burris (IL), Gillibrand (NY), Lautenberg (NJ), Menendez (NY), Kohl (WI), Udall (NM), Cardin (MD), Mikulski (MD), Byrd (WV), Rockefeller (WV), Akaka (HA), Begich (AL), and Bennet (CO).

You will note that not all members of the Democratic Caucus are listed, but don’t draw a negative inference from that. Many are members of Leadership and do not by practice sign letters to Leadership, and many others declined to sign the letter at present, but made their support of the extension clear.

This week, the President will deliver his State of the Union Address. He will focus primarily on the jobs crisis and the issue of job creation, and we must all continue to press the message that extending unemployment benefits and the COBRA subsidy is the necessary first step in the job creation agenda. The Economic Policy Institute estimates that up to 800,000 jobs could be lost this year if these benefits are not extended through the end of the year, pointing out the importance of the stimulative and stabilizing impact of UI benefits on local communities.

To that end, here is what you can do:

Contact the White House using this link: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact Tell the Administration that it must support and press for an extension of UI benefits and the COBRA subsidy through the end of 2010. Demand that he signal his support in the State of the Union Address. When you are done with that, continue to register your support with your Senators with our action alert, or by calling the Senate switchboard and asking for your Senator: (202) 224-3121. The Senate also needs to be reminded that legislation needs to be signed before February 21 (Sunday) in order to make sure that no states start shutting down their systems that are processing all of the additional federal benefits available through the end of next month.

As a final matter, many people are rightly asking if the Senate is considering adding more weeks (ie, a 5th tier) of benefits to the EUC program. The short answer is not at this time. Extending the programs themselves through the end of the year (which currently provide for up to 99 weeks of benefits in many states) is the first priority and because of the high cost, not a simple task. As much as we all know that more weeks are needed because of the severity of the recession, it is simply infeasible to consider adding more weeks at the present time.

 

Five Points Covering the Next UI Extensions - Help Get the Word Out (January 20, 2010)

In previous posts, we've asked for you to keep calling your Senators (1-888-245-0215) to make sure that an extension is passed before the current UI extensions are set to expire at the end of February.  Below are five talking points to get you started:

Congress comes back into session this week, so our campaign to make sure that the UI extension and COBRA subsidy continues kicks itself into high gear. Below are some important details on the campaign to extend these critical benefits before they start to run out in just about five weeks (February 28th).

1. What’s the Extension Proposal? – We are urging Congress to extend the EUC program, full federal funding of Extended Benefits, the $25 per week in Federal Additional Compensation, and the 65% 15-month COBRA subsidy through the end of 2010. We know that unemployment is going to remain in double digits through the end of this calendar year, therefore it is important to extend this program through 2010. Unemployed workers need to know that Congress and their Federal Government is behind them through this whole year, and the communities in which they live need the assurances of the crucial economic stimulus that these benefits provide.

2. Funding the Extension Benefits – Some have suggested that this package should be fully paid for by raising revenue from other sources, which will slow down the campaign and creates an unfair burden on the program in this time of special need. Thus, we are calling for this package to be paid for through “emergency spending” if necessary. Unemployment extensions have often be financed by emergency spending because by definition, they are an emergency. While we appreciate the concerns of those who worry about the deficit, the fact is that this is important economic stimulus that the country needs right now. Were these benefits to not be extended, the cost to the country (in the form of increased foreclosures, the money that ceases to flow through communities, and the increase in public benefits that would necessarily flow from the cessation of these benefits), will be far greater than the money necessary to pay for this package.

3. Pass the Bill No Later than February 19th – These benefits are set to expire on February 28, 2010, but in fact, if Congress does not extend these important benefits before Friday, February 19, 2010, state unemployment offices will have to start sending out notices to claimants that their benefits are expiring, and they will have to start reprogramming their computer systems to shut down with EUC, EB and FAC benefits. Were Congress to act after the 19th of February, it could take most states somewhere between 2 to 4 months to get their programs back up and running and the disruption of benefits would be devastating to families and communities. The House of Representatives has already acted on their extension bill, now it’s time for the Senate to act as well.

4. The Extension is Key to Economic Recovery – Extending UI and COBRA benefits is STEP ONE in any job creation program. Were they not to be extended, the economy could lose up to 800,000 jobs this year (according to the Economic Policy Institute). According to a recent Congressional Budget Office report, aid to the unemployed has the most significant impact on economic growth of any other policy options evaluated. Our economy is in a fragile state of recovery right now and cannot handle the one-two punch of this kind of job loss, coupled with the devastating impact on families if their unemployment insurance safety net disappears.

5. Act Now, No Time to Waste – The Senate is the target for now, so please start contacting every Senator you can – yours, any with whom you have a relationship -- and let them know that the Senate must extend UI and COBRA benefits through the end of 2010 and that they must do so by February 19, 2010. A letter is being circulated this week by Senate Democratic Leadership Council calling on the leadership to move the extension right away, so please be sure your Democratic Senators have signed on to that effort.

COBRA and the Next Round of Federal Unemployment Extensions (January 12, 2010)

Friends – we hope that in spite of current unemployment, that you and your families all had good, healthy and happy holiday seasons. We want to assure you that all of your UI team at NELP is hard at work, continuing to advocate for further extensions of the programs and benefits available to unemployed workers at this time.

The Senate returns to session next week, after the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday. There are a number of pressing issues they will need to take up quickly, and the Job Creation Bill and the effort to extend the federal unemployment benefits and COBRA subsidy are top of the list. With health care reform also high on the list, the timing is very tight to reauthorize the unemployment extension and COBRA benefits beyond the latest 2-month continuation of the program, which runs out February 28th.

So, right now, more than anything, your Senators need to know that extending UI and COBRA benefits through the end of the year is YOUR top priority, and that it needs to get done well before the program expires at the end of the February. Please take a moment to contact your Senators and send them the clear message. You can dial your Senator toll-free by calling 1-888-245-0215.

Thank you, and please stay tuned for further developments.

President Obama Enacts Reauthorization of Recovery Act Benefits (December 21, 2009)

Today, just one day after Congress passed the reauthorization of benefits provided in the recovery act, President Obama signed the legislation into law. For more information on the enactment of H.R. 3326, click here.

Congress Passes Reauthorization of Recovery Act Benefits into 2010 (December 19, 2009)

Both houses of Congress have now passed a two-month reauthorization of unemployment benefits provided under the Recovery Act, providing Emergency Unemployment Compensation, Extended Benefits, additional $25 per week, and enhanced COBRA subsides into 2010.  Please see our press release here (updated 12.21.09).  Further information regarding enactment of the reauthorization, as well as how this will affect your state and benefits, will be posted shortly.

Senate Moves Towards a Vote on Extending UI and COBRA Subsides into 2010 (December 18, 2009)

Friends – at approximately 1 am this morning, December 17th, the Senate voted to end debate on the Department of Defense bill that has the UI/COBRA 2-month extension attached to it. This means it becomes ripe for a vote tomorrow morning. The Senate is on track to take up the measure tomorrow morning and pass it. As always, we make no guarantees because something might happen to derail it at the last minute, but we have every reason to expect and hope that this won’t happen. It can’t hurt to call your Senators one more time -- 1-888-245-0215 – and remind them how important it is to get this done tomorrow.

As soon as we know anything, we’ll post another update.