UW.org Fights For Extended Benefits For America’s Working Families

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Top Priorities for Congressional Action:

Fund Subsidized Jobs: On September 30th, over 250,000 subsidized jobs created with funding provided by the Recovery Act will come to an end unless Congress reauthorizes the $2.5 billion program. In several states, these jobs are targeting large numbers of the long-term jobless. On September 15th, there will be a Jobs Emergency National Day of Action, with actions in Washington, D.C., and around the national in support of the "TANF Emergency Fund" program and other job creation priorities. The House of Representatives has twice supported another year of funding for the program, so it's up to the Senate to immediately pass legislation keeping the highly successful program going. Please contact your Senators to ensure they strongly support the TANF Emergency Fund and take part in the National Day of Action at an event near you.

Expand and Extend Jobless Benefits: In August, Senator Stabenow introduced the Americans Want to Work Act (S. 3706), which would provided another 20 weeks of benefits to workers who have reached the end of their federally-funded jobless benefits. A companion bill was introduced by Congresswoman Berkley (H.R. 6091). S. 3706 has 11 co-sponsors, thus it's critical to generate additional bi-partisan support in the Senate for this legislation. For more information about the efforts to fight for additional weeks of unemployment benefits, please check out Unemployed Friends, and/or the Unemployed Workers Action Group. In addition, after the elections, there will only be 4 work weeks at most for Congress to continue the latest extension of standard maximum 73 weeks of federally funded benefits. The reauthorization debate will heat up after the elections, but given the nasty tone of the last extension fight, it's critical to start making the case NOW that the extension, in its entirety, should be reauthorized.

Ban Credit Checks: Another issue that is likely of interest to many of you involved banning credit checks for employment. The use of these checks has grown substantially during this recession, which presents large numbers of unemployed workers -- especially those who have been hardest hit by long-term joblessness - with even more obstacles to finding work. The Equal Employment for All Act (H.R. 3149), sponsored by Congressman Steve Cohen (TN) and 55 additional members of the House of Representatives, would go a long way to limit credit checks for employment. Activists are urging Congressman Barney Frank of the Banking Committee to move the legislation. Click here for more details on the bill and to take action in support of the legislation (www.creditcatch22.org).

ACT NOW: As we learned in June and July during the ugly debate to reauthorize the extension of benefits, it's getting even harder to pass legislation addressing the desperate needs of today's jobless workers and their families. With the short amount of time that Congress remains in session this year, it will be that much more challenging to find the room for rational debate and consensus that it takes to move Congress to act on major priorities. So, it's more critical now than ever that we raise our voices loud and clear take the initiative back on these and other critical priorities for jobless workers and their families.

http://unemployedworkers.org/sites/unemployedworkers/index.php/content/blog

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1. kick. eom

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2. kick for the jobless