Stories of Families Hurt by Unemployment Benefits Expiration to be Shared at “Voices” Events

As the number of people cut off from emergency unemployment benefits approaches 3 million Americans, the Center for Effective Government and our partners the Coalition on Human Needs (CHN), the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC), and the National Employment Law Project (NELP) are launching a new push for extending unemployment benefits to hard-working Americans who are facing a still-rough jobs market. In the past, both Republicans and Democrats have helped the unemployed get back on their feet. It’s time for us to come together again and support our friends and neighbors.

On seven Wednesdays this summer, members of Congress, as well as leaders from labor, the faith community, the nonprofit sector, and the small business community, will gather near the Capitol Building in Washington, DC to read aloud the stories of the unemployed. The series, Witness Wednesdays: Voices of the Unemployed, will highlight some of the nearly 2,000 stories submitted by readers of this blog and will demand an extension of unemployment insurance.

The events will be held at the House Triangle on the following dates:

• Wednesday, June 11
• Wednesday, June 18
• Wednesday, June 25
• Wednesday, July 9
• Wednesday, July 16
• Wednesday, July 23
• Wednesday, July 30

We will be live-streaming the first event on June 11. Check back next Tuesday for further details on the Witness Wednesdays launch and the link for the live-stream coverage.

For more information on the event series or to share your story, please click on the image below or visit www.witnesswednesdays.org.

For Further Reading

Stories of Americans Cut Off of Emergency Unemployment Compensation, Government Matters, April 22, 2014

Emergency Unemployment Extension Expected to Take Back Seat to Tax Extenders, The Fine Printblog, April 25, 2014

Technically Speaking: Making Sense of Discharge Petitions, Cloture and Filibusters, The Fine Print blog, May 5, 2014

Unemployed Americans Kicked Out of Capitol, Forced to Share Their Stories Outside, The Fine Printblog, May 10, 2014

Six Months after Emergency Unemployment Benefits Expired, 2.8 Million Americans Left Behind, The Fine Print blog, May 21, 2014