Millions of families are
hanging on by their fingernails to their place in the middle class – and the
United States Senate just voted to let them fall.
I'm ashamed that the
Senate didn't extend unemployment benefits yesterday. I'm sickened that my
colleagues went home last night knowing that they just cut off a little help for
millions of people who have worked hard and who can't find a job.
And I'm
appalled that so many Senators cannot admit the simple reality: we are still in
the middle of a jobs crisis. People have been looking for work for months or
even years. Many are starting to give up entirely. Young people are beginning to
think that there isn't a future out there for them. Long-term unemployment isn't
just about money; it's also about losing hope.
These people – our
friends, our families, our neighbors – they weren't the ones who broke our
economy. So many people worked hard, played by the rules, and did everything we
told them to – and now struggle to find work. They need our help.
We help
because we care about people, but we also help because it is good for the
economy. The numbers show money put into unemployment goes right back into the
economy to help stimulate more demand and more business activity. According to a
new Congressional report, in just one week after unemployment benefits expired,
our state economies lost $400 million. Extending unemployment makes good
business sense.
There's so much we should be doing to strengthen our
economy and rebuild our middle class, and yesterday we took a step backwards.
Washington needs to get back to work solving problems – not making them worse –
so families can get back to work.
I really don't get why the Republicans
would stand in the way on this issue. I don't get it, but I'm taking stock – and
like many of my colleagues who voted to help people yesterday, I'm not giving
up.
Thank you for being a part of
this,
Elizabeth
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