Representatives Bobby Scott and Barbara Lee on Saturday published an article in the Richmond Times Dispatch promising to continue to fight for the provisions of the bill they introduced as the 111th Congress came to an end last month.
That bill, HR 6556, would have added 14 weeks to Tier I of the unemployment extensions currently in place and made the extra weeks available retroactively to people who have exhausted all their benefits and are still unemployed.
"We plan to push for passage of our "99er" bill into the 112th Congress. We know we have a tough road ahead, but after all, it is the season of miracles. With your support, we can help these conservative "Grinches" grow hearts and vote to help these hard-working Americans get back on their feet. Extending unemployment benefits to buy a little more time for the "99ers" and other exhaustees is the least we can do," the two wrote.
When the two introduced their bill in December, they were criticized for acting only for the sake of publicity, since the legislation had little chance of becoming law at such a late date.
With the new Republican-controlled House, it appears unlikely that this bill will become law. But 99ers across the country are still hoping they will be provided additional weeks. The following is an email received earlier today from reader Roger in California:
"I am so grateful for your continued coverage of the plight of the unemployed. I have experienced 147 weeks of unemployment. This week completes my 97th week of unemployment benefits here in California. I “extended” my unemployment by 50 weeks by working part-time for five different companies. Nothing has evolved into full-time work. The unemployment helped for the many weeks that I did not work part-time.
I am nearly 56-years old. I have a high-school diploma. I have two teenagers. I am worried about life after my final two weeks of unemployment ends. My family of four will be living then on the street. We have nothing left. Thanks you for your efforts. Today I emailed all of my representatives (both State and Federal) about a tier 5 unemployment extension. Let’s see if they truly represent my interests."
I am nearly 56-years old. I have a high-school diploma. I have two teenagers. I am worried about life after my final two weeks of unemployment ends. My family of four will be living then on the street. We have nothing left. Thanks you for your efforts. Today I emailed all of my representatives (both State and Federal) about a tier 5 unemployment extension. Let’s see if they truly represent my interests."
NOTE TO UNEMPLOYED READERS: PLEASE CONTINUE TO SEND STORIES OF YOUR JOB SEARCH TO: NaomiCohn@gmail.com. Thank you.
ALSO, TO REMAIN UPDATED ON THE LATEST UNEMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENTS, CLICK ON THE "SUBSCRIBE" BUTTON ABOVE.
ALSO, TO REMAIN UPDATED ON THE LATEST UNEMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENTS, CLICK ON THE "SUBSCRIBE" BUTTON ABOVE.
Comments
I too am going to the street at the end of this week! I am 62 years old and out of work since 8/3/07! After 15 years at the same job! I have put in so many apps I have lost count and at my age I am not surprised! My landlord has given me a 3 week reprieve due to the cold and Christmas! Thank God for that! I also have a 34 year old disabled son that I care for, only fighting for disability is a bi---! So I thank everyone who is trying to help us get a little more unemployment! We just have to pray for each other and think that it could be worse! God Bless you all and Happy new year! (PS I also have college)
Great spirit. We need people like you to get this thing addressed. Its time Washington listens to us, so thank you for your support and inspiration, and your son is lucky to have a person like you in his life.
I'VE BEEN LIVING WITH MY SISTER EVERY SINCE MY UNEMPLOYMENT RAN OUT IN MARCH OF 2010,ITS HARD TO SEE HER STRUGGLING TO PAY HER BILLS ON A SSI CHECK. I FEEL BAD BECAUSE I HAVE NO INCOME COMING IN, IM A DIABETIC AND I CAN NOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR MY MEDICINE I APPLY FOR A MEDICAL CARD AND WAS DENY AGAIN, I WORKED FOR OVER 28YRS.ANYTHING WOULD HELP AND I JUST HOPE SOMETHING WOULD COME THROUGH FOR US 99ER'S,THANKS TO MR.SCOTT AND MRS.LEE FOR SPEAKING OUT ON OUR BEHALFS.GOD BLESS YOU!!!
they could have passed a teir 5 months ago, they have no intention of helping us, 6556 was introduced to keep people from protesting in front of their homes over their christmass vacation , they did the same thing with 3706 just before their thanksgiving break. They do not plan on helping us, they are manipulating us for votes as always.
I'm not voting anymore. Our lives are a joke. I've been unemployed for almost two years. Had interviews they want to know why were you not working all this time? Why were you laid off? Blah blah....etc. I worked more than half of my life. I'm only 32 divorced now with 4 children. Paid my taxes. Took my money from my paychecks putting it back into the economy. Now I've lost my place to live the rent became to high once my income status changed. They continue to screw us. They're heartless!! A lesson well learned.....never vote it means nothing. Its the game of power.....
All I can say is this...remember all of this when you enter the voteing booth next time..forget them like they've forgotten us...
Vote for an endependent....
It's sad when you think about it. My UI runs out in 2 weeks. I have no money, I'm 59, worked for almost 30 years straight. I also have 2 undergraduate technical degrees and a MBA. It seems that companies do not care about capabilities, skills, experience or knowledge. They just just want someone who will fits into their company profile. You know - someone in their 20s.
If a tier 5 was given in July, would 99ers be demanding a tier 6 now?
Also, if the longer you are without a job the harder it is to get one, how will a tier 5 or 6 help anything?
Thanks for the encouragement, 99isenough. You must know that the 99ers are victims of the Great Recession. What are they supposed to do if they cannot find a job? Off themselves?
Tim,
I just asked a couple of questions.
I don't know the answer to this whole mess, IF there is an answer.
Is the government supposed to keep paying 99ers?
When most people started receiving unemployment, they DID know there would be an end to it.
I am shocked and frustrated to be unemployed for 2 years. I have to remind myself that this is not my fault and it is due to the economical downturn and in my case failing construction industry that needs congress's help. Since I live in VA, my UI stopped in Oct. 2010 and if it was not for family would be on the street NOT eating etc... It is disgraceful that a professional like me has NO health insurance in a country like america -- my cobra expired 6 months ago. HELP and thanks for pushing this legislation, we need atleast the little money coming from unemployment benefits to survive till JOB's are available. I for one am not enjoying my current status & am spending more then 8 hours every day job searching, volunteering and networking.
ric,
A lot of people in this country do not have health insurance.
The gov will start (if not already) notice welfare applications start to climb. I suppose if it does not come from unemployment insurance then it will come from welfare.
Of course this will make the unemployment picture look rosey, but will still effect the gov spending.
Hopefully the gov will stop spending money on these adventures overseas helping Iraq and afganistan. Help people at home first.
Maybe provide jobs to Americans who can provide support roles to the troops overseas? The problem is going to take a loong time to fix folks. Why? The jobs have been sent overseas and there is next to 0 chance that they will ever come back.
Yep you can retrain to be a doctor or a nurse, but even those occupations are being taken by profesionals from other countries. (Take a look at your local hospital and you will see)
If you do get a job, do your best and learn as much as you can, you never know what is coming up next.
Here is an interesting news release from Foxnews
In the release they state "The drop in the unemployment rate was partly influenced because the government no longer counts people as unemployed when they stop looking for work."
When they stop looking for work? You mean when they are dropped from unemployment. Everyone is looking for work regardless of getting gov help or not. The people falling off the rolls due to getting jobs are great! But I bet the larger % are those who fell off and are still looking. In any event, at least the gov stats look better.
we need to go to washington and let them see our faces we voted for change we got got change no home no food no jobs.
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