Catholic Charities USA Action Alert 2/22/10

Urge Your Senators to Support Extension of Jobless Worker Benefits and COBRA.

WHAT:  This week, Congress will vote on legislation to promote job growth to continue our nation’s move toward economic recovery. As part of these efforts, Catholic Charities USA asks you to join advocates across the country in urging the U.S. Senate to extend unemployment benefits and COBRA through the end of 2010. Without Congressional action, these critical benefits will run out at the end of February affecting millions of dislocated workers.

What You Can Do:

Contact your Senators today and ask them to help struggling Americans by extending Unemployment Insurance and COBRA subsidy through the end of 2010.

ACTION NEEDED:

  • Ask your Senators to support an extension of Unemployment Insurance benefits
  • Ask your Senators to ensure that jobless workers can continue to receive health coverage by extending COBRA subsidies
  • Ask your Senators to provide financial support to states and local governments to prevent further cuts to critical social services such as Medicaid

Click on “Take Action” and enter your zip code to send a message to your Senators.

BACKGROUND:

While the U.S. House of Representatives passed an extension of unemployment benefits in its jobs bill, the Senate failed to do so before the recent President’s Day recess. This inaction now places millions of dislocated workers at risk of losing benefits that were provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Congress must take IMMEDIATE action to reauthorize current federal extensions (including both the Emergency Unemployment Compensation and Extended Benefits programs), the additional $25 per week in every jobless worker’s benefits check, and COBRA subsidies for jobless workers. These benefits are set to expire at the end of February 2010 without Congressional action.

If you have questions, please contact Desmond Brown, Senior Director of Government Affairs at dbrown@catholiccharitiesusa.org, or, Kellyann McClain, Policy Analyst at kmcclain@catholiccharitieusa.org.