Call-In Number: 845-809-4509

Right-wing efforts to block an extension of long-term unemployment benefits have left 1.3 million Americans and over 90,000 New Jerseyans out in the cold. We must take immediate action to restore these benefits, and your voice can make the difference as the U.S. Senate prepares to vote tonight and the House of Representatives votes within the next two weeks.

In the U.S. Senate, both Senators Robert Menendez and Cory Booker are fighting to restore unemployment benefits. It is important that we thank them for their support as well as ask them to prevail upon their Republican colleagues to break the filibuster. We also must reinforce our support in the U.S. House by thanking our allies and urging opponents to fight for jobless Americans rather than fighting against them.

• Call the Congress now at 845-809-4509. By entering your 5-digit zip code you can connect with your Representative or connect to the general switchboard.

• Urge your U.S. Senators and U.S. House Representative to vote to restore unemployment benefits – a critical lifeline for out-of-work New Jerseyans.

Unemployment benefits remain a core stimulus for struggling families and are most important during these economically difficult times when jobs are scarce and thousands of workers are unemployed through no fault of their own. Discontinuing benefits for the long-term unemployed will not increase their job prospects and will cost New Jersey approximately $34 million in economic activity, since recipients typically spend unemployment benefits immediately on basic goods and services. In fact, every $1 of unemployment benefits increases economic activity by $1.90.

We must continue to fight for an economic recovery for working families of all income levels, and restoring unemployment benefits is essential to achieving that goal.