Stop the Senate from denying extended unemployment
On October 9, 2009, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) brought the proposed bill H.R. 3548 to give federal unemployment benefit extensions to all 50 states because he recognizes the urgent needs of the people. However, that same day Republican Senator Jon Kyl from Arizona stalled his efforts for speedy passage by asking for more time to consider the bill that would help keep a roof over many Americans heads and keep food on their tables.
The bill was scheduled to return to the senate for additional review and vote on October 13, 2009. Most people thought that it would pass without further delay because of the overwhelming need. During the September 22, 2009, House vote on the bill Congressman Levin Sander (D-MI-12) stated that 15 million Americans are now unemployed the highest number since 1939. Well, after hearing that we were all convinced that our great country knew and understood our plight but more importantly that they would not allow us to suffer, not in America. After all, we are the richest country in the world.
To our great surprise, once again the Republicans made it their business to show their true colors. They stopped the accelerated passage of the bill again! This unjust action is proof positive that the GOP is determined to destroy American workers. Failing businesses take priority over the well-being of the people. Republicans rooted for our President to fail, rooted against the Olympics in America, and even snarled at the fact that President Obama won the Nobel Peace prize. No greater honor has been bestowed on a sitting President of the United States of America since Woodrow Wilson in 1919 and they do not respect or appreciate that fact.
If the proposed extended unemployment bill is not passed within the next week thousands of Americans and soon to be, millions will fall below the poverty level in this country. Homelessness will reach astronomical proportions and hunger will surly rise. The result is an extreme burden on an already strained system. Tent cities will become the norm and emergency services will collapse from the ever growing need of the homeless. America is better than this. Are we going to just stand by and watch America fail? This is a call for immediate action. It is time to speak up and speak out for all Americans. It is imperative that we stay informed and take action http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-3548 to ensure passage of this bill.
By signing this petition, you ask the Senate to pass the unemployment extension bill immediately and without further delay, as millions of Americans are falling into the depths of poverty with each passing day.
The people must stand up to the U.S. Senate and demand passage of proposed bill H.R. 3548 to extend unemployment benefits now.
On October 9, 2009, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) brought the proposed bill H.R. 3548 to give federal unemployment benefit extensions to all 50 states because he recognizes the urgent needs of the people. However, that same day Republican Senator Jon Kyl from Arizona stalled his efforts for speedy passage by asking for more time to consider the bill that would help keep a roof over many Americans heads and keep food on their tables.
The bill was scheduled to return to the senate for additional review and vote on October 13, 2009. Most people thought that it would pass without further delay because of the overwhelming need. During the September 22, 2009, House vote on the bill Congressman Levin Sander (D-MI-12) stated that 15 million Americans are now unemployed the highest number since 1939. Well, after hearing that we were all convinced that our great country knew and understood our plight but more importantly that they would not allow us to suffer, not in America. After all, we are the richest country in the world.
To our great surprise, once again the Republicans made it their business to show their true colors. They stopped the accelerated passage of the bill again! This unjust action is proof positive that the GOP is determined to destroy American workers. Failing businesses take priority over the well-being of the people. Republicans rooted for our President to fail, rooted against the Olympics in America, and even snarled at the fact that President Obama won the Nobel Peace prize. No greater honor has been bestowed on a sitting President of the United States of America since Woodrow Wilson in 1919 and they do not respect or appreciate that fact.
If the proposed extended unemployment bill is not passed within the next week thousands of Americans and soon to be, millions will fall below the poverty level in this country. Homelessness will reach astronomical proportions and hunger will surly rise. The result is an extreme burden on an already strained system. Tent cities will become the norm and emergency services will collapse from the ever growing need of the homeless. America is better than this. Are we going to just stand by and watch America fail? This is a call for immediate action. It is time to speak up and speak out for all Americans. It is imperative that we stay informed and take action http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-3548 to ensure passage of this bill.
By signing this petition, you ask the Senate to pass the unemployment extension bill immediately and without further delay, as millions of Americans are falling into the depths of poverty with each passing day.
The people must stand up to the U.S. Senate and demand passage of proposed bill H.R. 3548 to extend unemployment benefits now.
We the undersigned want and expect our voices to be heard. The current jobless rate in this country has reached astronomical proportions and there are no signs of improvement for unemployed workers across the country. Nevada along with many other states has an extremely high unemployment rate and a shortage of resources to sustain the unemployed and underemployed population.
The people are in need of immediate help in order to avoid homelessness, starvation, and illness. We are pleading with you to do the peoples work today and resolve this issue immediately. We cannot afford to wait because our very lives are hanging in the balance. We are unable to make rent, mortgage, or utility payments and along with that comes an inability to buy food.
This extreme lack is a direct result of not having a source of income without unemployment benefits. Have any of you ever been homeless or close to it? If you have then you can surely understand our cry and need for help now. Please stand up for us as we demand and need your assistance today not next week or next year but now. We appreciate you taking the time to read this letter and fully expect that you will respond with swift action.
My husband was laid off in June 2008 two months after our twins were born and has been unable to find a job. I am back at work after being disabled 8 mos. for the pregnancy. We now have 3 children under 3 to care for. These benefits are about half of what my husband was making, but have allowed us to pay our mortgage (until now....).
Only with the unemployment benefits. Otherwise, no.
I was laid off in August 2009 and my benefits are set to expire late Jan 2010. How is it that people have been receiving benefits for almost two years and i will only get 6 months and then, bam, DONE! Something needs to happen, AND SOON!
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11:04 am PST, Dec 17,
Name not displayed, Wisconsin
I lost my job with the federal government in December 2008. I exhausted all of my savings while I searched for another job in Washington, DC. I was advised that nobody was hiring until they knew what Obama's administration would do. Now I live with my parents in a small town in Wisconsin and I'm finding that my remote location causing problems too. My benefits expire in January. Then, I expect that I will run through all that I've saved again. |
Worked in New York 13 years, got layed off in july 2009..been looking for work. Please help extend unemployment for 2010..
Barely with unemployment.. please help!
When people are on unemployment it is not by their choice. The lenght of time presently given should not be shortened, if anything should be longer.
Usually unemployment doesn't even make a rent or house payment for most people. Then there is the usual bills & food to be considered
I am a 58 year old skilled tradesman in the architectural millwork trade. I have never before had to use UI benifits. Now I find myself in Los Angeles where work should be there for a guy like me but all my efforts have yeilded nothing more than a year into this job search. One thing I have seen in my industry is the affect of illegal alien workers being used for lower skilled positions has discouraged young american workers from coming in and learning the trade. California looks to be on the express lane to big problems soon so I am going to pack my tools and head back to Carolina in the very near future. The American worker has seen a decade of of being sold out and I hope our government will show us some love now in our hour of dire need.
I was laid off in November 2008 and have not been successful in getting a job 'til now. I definitely appreciate the ui benefits and the extensions that I have received, but please do not delay in this decision. Without these extensions me and my family would have already been homeless and starved to death by now. The youngest child in my home is 17 months old, please do not do this to him. This is America - I thought it was supposed to be UNITED WE STAND! Please do not delay this extension any longer. Thank you for your time, Connie
I have been juggling my bills since I was laid off, but thankfully we still have a roof over our heads.
I am not able to make monthly payments without employment.
No - some have been put on credit cards.
I was laid off by a major telecommunications company in the Fall of 2008. I had more than 28 1/2 years of service...so I was 1 1/2 years short of being eligible for my full retirement. I have been unable to find a job and I am losing all hope at this point. My COBRA subsidy expired last month. My EUC Tier II benefits ran out on Dec 5, 2009. The Kansas unemployment office just advised me the EUC Tier III benefits are on hold because they are still waiting for information from the Department of Labor. I have no idea if I will be eligible for Tier III benefits as they have not even begun mailing out applications yet.
Yes, barely.
Im a single mother of twins age 7 who recently got unemployed as of 6/29/09. My beenfits are bout to expire in the end of December begining of January and that is I will no longer recieved any benefits. I only quailifed for my 6 months of employment. I am a hard worker and been working ever since i came back from college. Right now laid off after 7 yrs of consistant employment., now I must apply to Pubic assistance, in order to survive. I went away for school so i will not become a static and I came back to NYC because i was born and raised here and want my children to do the same but it is becoming harder and harder each day to try to at least mainitain our needs.
Without my unemployment benefits they is no way i will meet the need of providing for me children and having a roof over our head!!! I do not want to be homesless and feel sorry for so many that are!!! We need your help please!! Help save my family and dont let us become homeless.. MY children do not even know we have no money!!!PLease plese sign this billl!!!! Unemployed since 6/29/2009
I was laid off in May 2008 from a furniture manufacturer in North Carolina. By march 2009 I had not found a job yet, so I moved to Virginia where the unemployment rate is lower. It is now December 2009 and I'm still unemployed and about to run out of benefits. I have great skills with primary focus in customer service. My problem - I am 60 years old. Who is going to hire me? No one. I am too young for social security and can't find a job. I never visualized having to live with my children and have them support me when I reached this age. It is extremely difficult being in this situation.
Absolutely not.
have been unemployed since nov 07 and have been looking since unemployment has ran out
not for two months and no good news as of today
Pamela Lennon...55 and out of work too young for medicare and too old for welfare, and not mentlly INCOMPETENT,nor what the government and people who evr seen me , deemed not disabled...unemployment is the only thing that keeps me from being on the streets.No jobs , no justice.Thank Goodness I have no one but myself to worry about. My children are grown and out on thier own.
OR
Both myself and my husband were laid off in June 2009. I have been working a part time job for $10/hour, and we are barely getting by. We lost our health insurance in August, as we could not afford the premiums anymore. My husband did not qualify for unemployment benefits, and we are living on mine. My regular state funded benefits run out on December 31. 2009. If we do not get the extension, we will probably lose our home. Please do not hesitate to pass this legislation. It is desperately needed.
If we lose my benefits we will not be able to pay our bills. My credit is ruined as I had to choose to pay my living expenses over credit cards. We may have to apply for food stamps and medicaid. I have a BA, and have always been able to find a job. I cannot believe we are in this situation. Please someone help!
I have been laid off since the end of Feb. '09. It's been a battle from day one. I have been lucky so far. I'm continuing my education. However there is never a day that goes by that I'm not concerned and overwhelmed about my future. Now my COBRA benefits are running out. I do work part time and am able to get benefits from my employer. I have a bachelors degree but am working 10-15 hrs. at minimum wage. I may be luckier than others. However once unemployment runs out I am basically screwed. However they are not nearly as good and I'm afraid that I won't have the money be able to get prescriptions filled for my daughter and I. Negotiating these waters is a day to day struggle. I am hoping to keep my house but 2010 appears to be even more of a juggling act. When unemployment benefits run out I will lose everything.
I've asked my x-husband to help out. I've asked my parents. The fact is no one really seems to care. My credit is ruined. I may have a lawsuit on my hands from one or more of them. I'm always on the edge of qualifying for anything from food stamps to IHEP. It all gets overwhelming. I believe my gender and age group has been affected more than others. I'm 55 years old and dedicated my life to my family more than a career. Bottom line is that I may have nothing to show for that in the years to come.
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6:11 pm PST, Dec 14,
Maneesh Pangasa, Arizona
ight now with a national 10% unemployment rate (was 10.2% in prior month) that is still too high we need to extend financial unemployment benefits again to Americans looking for work who are presently unemployed, extend COBRA health benefits to the unemployed, pass real healthcare reforms with mandated competition and cost containment measures to bring the needed cost savings Americans need and our federal government needs to pay down the federal budget deficits and national debt; make MediCare and MediCaid more financially solvent and extend SCHIP -- the national State Children Health Insurance Program a public health insurance program for kids and focus on job creation. When more Americans have a job there's more taxpayers to generate revenue from and more revenue to spread around even if tax rates are low there's more people paying taxes. Don't give in to Republican and corporate special interests. Do right by the American public now! |
I lost my job in furniture sales in December 2008 because my workplace closed due to these tough economic times. I am grateful I qualified for unemployment benefits because I do not know how I could have paid my bills without them! My benefits ended on December 12 and I'm praying I will get an extension as I certainly have not been able to find a job.
BARELY - as long as I receive my unemployment! My health insurance is over $500 a month with a $5,000 deductible.
I became unemployed on Feb 15th 2009...Since than I have been seeking employment without success...My first extension of Unemployment Benefits will be running out in less than a month, on Jan 9th...That means that I will be missing the second extension offered by the state by two weeks...It is unfair and will result in tragic consequences as I have no other means to pay my rent. Prospect of becoming homeless is very scary. Please extend the ARRA benefits for people like me as well before the end of this year, without delay.
Currently I am able to meet my monthly expenses (barely), with the addition of a small social security income. However when Unemployment Benefits ends in January '10, I will be homeless...
i'am unepliyed i can not get my first extension because iwas one week short for quailying some need to be done about this right a way
no i'm in bas shape now
Please extend regular benefits in 2010!
I have been chronically unemployed for the past 5 years.UI is the only thing that keeps me from losing my home.Please extend the emergency benefits.I am in the construction field,electrician for 25 years.There is no work for the union sector.Unless you mant to travel hundreds of miles without a guarantee of a job.Who has the money for the gas anyway.I ahve aplan to return to school,but no one will loan me money,as my credit has been ruined by all the market downfall.
Without ui i could not meet my expenses.
Laid off after 18 years with same company. I am a few months shy of 60 years old.I have put in over 90 resumes and can not find anything...
Until the Unemployment expires in December then I am too young for Social Security and at my age no one wants an old man. So we're out on the streets in wintertime. WE NEED HELP.
no can not pay half my bills and the unemploment rate keeps going up here.
Tell us your story.
Are you able to meet your monthly living expenses?
I was laid off on October 8th, 2008, not having a job is extremely stressful and not good when you suffer from migraine headaches, my partner works for chili's and only gets tips, without the income I was bringing home we can't afford both of our cars so 1 of them has to be returned. I've always heard that the USA is the richest country on the planet but I don't see it with all these people losing everything.
We are barely meeting our monthly expenses, if it weren't for my partners mother and sister with there food stamps we wouldn't be able to eat.
I was laid off Jan 29, 2009. I have submitted well over 500 resumes, filled out online applications, cold calls, drove around looking for help wanted and have only had two calls that ended up being recruiters who did not actually have jobs available. I have never had a problem finding or getting a job and I desperately want to work!!!!! My entire family has lost jobs in construction, real estate and they also have not had any luck finding employment. Something has to be done and fast. We have lost almost everything we have worked so hard for over the years. I am at a loss as what to do next. I have tried and tried and I am so exhausted from the stress, anxiety and pain of not being able to work and pay even the basics such as utilities, food.
No we are not. I am always one termination letter away from having the electric, water or phone shut off. I am trying to keep my car as I need it if I ever get a job. I think that will be the next thing to go.
i have been laid off since jan. 2008 and can not find a job. the extension passed last month is great news,only one problem the state of wisconsin is now 4 weeks behind in mailing checks, when i file tomorrow they will be 5 weeks behind. they did the saame thing on the extension passed before this one. they will not receive e-mail and to get them on the phone is near impossible.
only because of some money my wife received when her father passed away.
I am one of the 3.2 million American's that will be without income by March,2010 from unemployment benefits due to no jobs in my area.
Barely. UI benefits in NYS need to be raised to meet basic living expenses.
I have been laid of from the oilfield thank you demos
Somtimes
i have been laid off from my job after 5 years , all applications now are on line so you have no chance to show your personality or any humanity. i am an older worker and nearing the end of my working years. i have trying for any job i could get, i have applied for endless dishwashing jobs, even those require background checks. i have an old felone, from 1983 and still i am denied and told it is the reason.
luckily i owe no creditors but just food and room take every penny. i rent a room from my brother in law, if it were not for him i would be homeless. i can not expect him to pay my way, he himself has been laid off and at the end of his rope, the only one working is his wife, she like most women is taken advantage of by her company and does not get equal pay. so here we are two men and one woman with only one job between us.
Hello, I have been unemployed since December of 2008. I am nearing the end of my Tier II benefits and was told on 9 Dec. 09 that I may NOT receive Tier III benefits because they are due to run out as my Tier II runs out and Virginia has not enacted legislation to enable the program to be reactivated. You know, when I know of millions of good folks that are needing meals, heat and money to scrape by on and Congress doesn't act but does have time to pass certain legislation on sports teams, I have to ask myself where the hell are the priorities of the government! I have made oodles of contact by phone, walk In, email, but no one wants to hire me. I am a white male, 50 years oold, bad back and even with my military education and service background, I might as well be graound beef. I also have a minor criminal conviction of misdemeanor battery from over (13) years ago that makes me as desirable as a bite from a rattlesnake. I am worthless to myself and my family thanks to job outsourcing and the higher level of younger, better educated, folks also competing against me for jobs. I have been trying to start my own business in the midst of this Depression, regardless of the spin government and media are putting on our current economic crisis. However, the business I am requires a lot of capital and the banks won't give me a lone due to my unemployed status. What am I suppose to do, just sit here and die while Hannah Montanna makes more money in 1 hour than I need for a whole year???? Why the desparity? Why am I expendable and not wanted or desired by anyone? I have a very wide employment backgound, with (2) degrees. I served the country honorably. The criminal conviction was due to a divorce and with children and white males are numero uno on the Profile of Police and Social Services as being accused and guilty automaticaly...I didn;t have the money to fight either. You must understand, that I am NOT going to just lay here and die. It is suvival of the fittest and I WILL do what I must to keep myself and my little family fed and protected.
In one word.....NO!
Unimployed
No
Lost my job, then my house, live in Itasca cnty UI-rate here is over 12 percent, have no money to move. You bailed out the banks, give corporations huge tax breaks, you call this a free market but it's not, it's bought and paid for by the wealthy and their corporations. We, I need help, single mothers need help, children need help, it won't break the country, health-care for everyone won't "cost" too much, It's not helping and not caring that will cost too much. YOU and your polices have gutted the middle class, exported our jobs over seas, and looked the other way when big money swindles your citizens out of each new nickle. Is it worth it? No foreign power on earth is a threat to us, but you who are entrusted to make the rules and laws are a threat to us. Open Your Eyes and Your Hearts, stop looking out only for yourselves and your fatcat friends. Shake off your myopic "I've got mine, don't care about you" mindset and be part and party to real prosperity and hope by doing what you should already be doing, serving the highest good for your constituents and their fellow citizens. Sincerely, D Helmer
With the UI I can meet my expenses, when it ends--???, as I mentioned before my county has a high UI rate vs the rest of the state which ONLY has 7.5 or so.
I am one of the very many that will not get extended benefits due to the fact that I applied in July of 2009. I don't understand how we allowed extentions back in 2008 when the unemployment rate was lower then it is now. We hit a all time high over 10%. If people who were collecting in 2008 have not found a job yet , how do you expect us to find one? My unemployment is up the 1st week of Jan I don't know what I am going to do. I have over 25yrs in management,lost my job of 71/2 yrs. I did not ask for this, however this is a serious matter and something needs to be done. A extention needs to be passed as soon as possible inorder for people like myself to have peace of mind. I don't want to be homeless come 2010.
I will not be able to meet my fiancial obligations if there is not an extension for those of us whose benefits expire in Jan 2010
They need to pass a further extension for the people that are ending their benefits in jan - feb. It's very stupid to just have the deadline be between a couple of days in dec. what has America come to? It's sad to think of since many of us will be screwed and probably end up living on the streets and try to find any scrap of food driving us all to our death beds. We need these benefits extended to save many more lives. It's just not fair because the people that had unemployment the longest will be the lucky ones and not have to worry so much as for the other people that just got theirs about a few months ago/half year ago. I hope that they all think more deeply about the issue and open their hearts and help extend benefits for the less fortunate. I always put applications and my resume' in everywhere but I don't even get one call...one interview. I have bills like everyone else, a car payment, a mortgage but when my deadline is cut at the beginning of February than I might be homeless if I can't get a job by than. It's just plain ridiculous where this so called country is going.
I was laid off in January of 09 from a job I worked at for 25 years. The economy hit hard on the trailer business. I am seeking work daily with no success as of yet.
I will not be able to meet my fianancial obligations if there is not an extension for those of us whose benefits expire in January. There is no guarantee that I will have a job before that time either. Please give us this extension...the economy has not made a big enough turn around to just cut us loose like that!!!!!
I was laid off in May 2009 and have exhausted my initail six months. I will recive tier 1 but no further extensions.
I pay for medication because I have no insurance, i pay for car insurance, I pay for gas,food,shelter, and other basic costs of life. I have not been able to find a job due to this bad economy. Hopefully Obamas job creation will work before my Unemployment compensation runs out or I will probably end up burdening taxpayers more by ending up in an overcrowded prison.
With the economy in the state that it is...it would become a serious travesty if the benifits were stopped. Everyone is effected, even myself, who thought there was no way that I would be terminated from the excellent job that I was doing at my previous employment. Now I am over qualified for 98 percent of the jobs in this area. I cant get a loan to start a business and times are getting desparate.
Unable to keep up with my expenses and I am having to choice who not to pay on a daily basis. I had a 720 credit score; however, I have a 570 now and anticipate it to get worst.
No way can I meet my expenses without the unemployment. I have a hard time reaching them now. Denying the extension based on a cut of date would hurt not only me but many others.
can you tell us when we might get a check in florida ?
iam about to get my lights turn off and water also no money for food or gas to try to find a job
I had a great job at an insurance brokerage firm for five years. Then the agency hit hard times due to the rotten economy and sold to another agency late last year. The new agency was buying up other agencies and then realized it had taken on more than it could handle, so it decided to start cutting workers (even though they had said they would never do this. BS). I was let go at the end of September 2009. I recently discovered that I will not qualify for the extensions if they are not extended into 2010 when my original UEI runs out. I have a friend who was laid off when I was and she had to go to an EDD workshop. The person doing the workshop lied to her and told her that she would be getting the extensions. I told her that that isn't so and showed her what it says on the EDD website. I can't believe that EDD doesn't even have its facts straight. No wonder so many people are completely confused over all of this.
For right now, I am able to make my monthly expenses. My UEI is covering the rent and utilities and that is it. I am glad I have enough money saved up to cover everything else for now. I am single, on my own and have paid off my car (thank God). I don't know what I will do next year if I don't still have a job. I really do not want to lose my apartment.
My husband was laid off in Feb 2009 while I was 6 months pregnant with our 2nd baby. I lost my job in Aug of 2009. We have a daughter who is going ot be 4 in a couple weeks and a 7 month old baby girl. We were not able to stay in our home after my husband was laid off. We have since been living w/ my parents and trying to pay the bills we have left. My husband and I have both had serveral interviews but nothing since come through yet. I read the EDD wesite for CA and I worry we may not get UI benefits extended due to the deadlines.
We can pay the bills we have left only because we now live with my parents and both recieve UI benefits. If we loose our benefits, then we will not be able to pay our bills. We would need to look into foodstamps. We are already on Medi-cal.
Barely.
I worked in the mortgage industry to save up to go to flight school because it's my life long dream to be a pilot. I was laidoff from there and had to take a job at a 60% cut in salary. I then was laidoff from there along with everyone in the company and now the only way I'm eating is going to be cut out of my life. I will not be able to get gas for job Interviews.
No not at all. I borrow at least $400 a month from friends and family just to pay the bills. Now i'm about $5,000 in debt on personal loans.
I have been unemployed since july 2008. I hold an MBA. I have over fifteen years in management. Like every other normal, hard working american out of work, I can't do much more than I am. 100-200 applications per wk and I am lucky if I get a call back once a month. I will be homeless first week of January if they do not extend. How can the government stand by and watch people live on the streets?
nope
i lost my job since July 2008,and ever since it has been tough and an uphill struggle,i stopped paying my credit cards because i can`t.stopped doing a lot of things i use to do with my family,i can`t even meet the basics living expenses,thank God my landlord understands my situation other wise i would have been homeless by now
i live in mass and had worked in hawaii and they do not wish to give an extension to an out of state worker
yes but hawaian unemployment is unfair to out of state workers
Been looking for over one year. People with law degrees applying for clerical jobs here.
Not without unemployment.
I am a plumber who has been laidoff all year.I am a member of local 174 in grand rapids,mi.The last meeting on dec. 2 was not good in that the outlook for work in mi. is bad.I hope they will extend benefits into 2010 so that maybe by then some work will begin to break loose.
