Write Your Legislatures Urging them to Extend Unemployment Benefits. The Moneys Are in Place, Thanks to the Bailout Dollars.

March 30, 2009

Dear Friends,

Greetings from the National Employment Law Project, and our unemployment information action site, www.unemployedworkers.org!

We are urging you to take action to extend unemployment benefits. As many of you know, the federal government is providing up to 33 weeks of federal emergency unemployment compensation (EUC) benefits to workers in high unemployment benefits.

However, there are over 1 million workers who are reaching the end of these Tier II EUC benefits in these high unemployment states. Fortunately, allies of jobless workers slipped an EXTENSION OF THE EXTENSION into Section 2005 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)-that gave states the option of providing 13-20 weeks of benefits on top of the EUC program.

The details of this extension have been largely ignored. You can learn more about all the extended benefits programs by visiting our website HERE.

The bottom line is that some high unemployment states have to pass STATE LEGISLATION to get jobless workers all they deserve out of this 3rd extension of benefits (which is known simply as EB, extended benefits).

The states where action must be taken are: **ALABAMA, ARIZONA, DC, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, INDIANA, ILLINOIS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, MISSISSIPPI MISSOURI, NEW YORK, OHIO, PUERTO RICO, SOUTH CAROLINA AND TENNESSEE.** In most of these states, legislation is already proposed to make the necessary changes to pay the maximum EB benefits.

**NOW, WE NEED YOUR HELP TO BUILD PUBLIC PRESSURE TO GET THIS LEGISLATION PASSED.**

Please take a moment to contact your state legislator by visiting NELP's action center HERE

It's imperative that you act today, and share this link with all your friends: http://www.nelp.org/page/speakout/EB324

Thanks again for your patience as we retool our website.

We look forward to being in touch.

Sincerely,
Andy, Christine, Debbie, Judy, Rick and Maurice The National Employment Law Project

P.S. If you have question or comments please email unemployedworkers.org@gmail.com

Our Postal Address: 75 Maiden Lane Suite 601 New York, New York 10038 United States

LET THE REVOLUTION BEGIN!

Thanks for all you do!
Live your values. Love your country.
And, remember: TOGETHER, We can make a DIFFERENCE!

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