As Pennsylvania's U.S. Senator Patrick Toomey Heads Home for the Holidays 86,000 Pennsylvanians Will Lose Unemployment Benefits on December 28

Pennsylvania AFL-CIO Calls On Congress To Immediately Extend Unemployment Insurance

New White House report details state impact: http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/uireport-2013-12-4.pdf

HARRISBURG, Pa., Dec. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As Congress heads home for the holidays, a new report from the White House Council of Economic Advisors shows that 86,000 unemployed workers in Pennsylvania will lose their unemployment benefits by December 28^th.  Failure to extend this emergency assistance will cause Pennsylvania to lose 15,200 jobs in 2014.The Pennsylvania AFL-CIO is urging elected representatives to immediately act to help the economy and preserve this vital lifeline for the families of jobless workers searching for employment.

"It is inexcusable and irresponsible for Congress to let unemployment benefits lapse in a weak economy and during the holiday season.  Severing the safety net for struggling families is terrible policy, even for a Congress that has failed to advance a proactive agenda to create jobs. At a time when unemployment in Pennsylvania is 7.5 percent, our representatives' refusal to act is the worst holiday gift families of millions of jobless Americans could ever receive," said Rick Bloomingdale, President of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO.

Congressional inaction before December 28^th would end support for more than 1.3 million jobless workers nationally, while costing the economy 240,000 jobs nationwide because of decreased consumer demand. This heavy blow to a struggling economy is the latest unnecessary economic crisis after sequestration and the government shutdown.

Added Pennsylvania AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Frank Snyder, "The expiration of unemployment benefits will hurt workers in Pennsylvania who want to work but have lost their jobs due to the poor economy. Nearly 36% of jobless workers have been looking for work for more than six months. The Pennsylvania AFL-CIO is calling on Senator Patrick Toomey to show some leadership and ensure these workers can support their families until they can find a job and reenter the workforce."

SOURCE Pennsylvania AFL-CIO

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