Welcome to the seventh #HERvotes blog carnival! Today the coalition tackles the need to protect women and employment during these tough economic times, with a focus on the importance of extending Unemployment Insurance (UI) before the December 31st deadline.
It is critical that Congress acts before the end of this calendar year to renew federal UI. The loss of this lifeline will hurt some 6 million people who stand to lose their benefits in 2012.
If Congress fails to extend the benefits, women will suffer. According to Dr. Adriana Kugler, chief economist for the Department of Labor, 2.2 million women will lose their benefits if UI is not extended. Many others will be affected too, including 500,000 Latinos and 400,000 Latinas, 1.2 million African Americans (including 500,000 African American women), and millions of children.
UI must be extended in order to protect American families. 1.8 million struggling families will be immediately kept afloat. This will have a positive impact on our overall economy too; studies show that every $1 spent on unemployment insurance stimulates $2 in growth in the U.S. economy.
Extending unemployment insurance must be a vital priority for Congress. For many American families and many American women, the protection of their benefits is crucial.
Join us by sharing the posts below on Facebook, Twitter (using the hashtag #HERvotes), and other social media.
Let’s spread the word and make sure Congress hears our voices.
The blog posts below include personal stories and more information on why unemployment insurance is critical. Happy reading and thanks for joining in the fight to protect women’s economic welfare.
#HERvotes, a multi-organization campaign launched in August 2011, advocates women using our voices and votes to stop the attacks on the women’s movement’s major advances, many of which are at risk in the next election. We are very excited HERvotes is growing in membership and reaching millions of people.
Part of the #HERvotes blog carnival.
I Am ‘Occupying’ D.C. for My Children and Future Generations– Linda Evans
When My Husband Faced Unemployment– Karoline, Mom’s Rising
Unemployment Insurance is the LEAST We Can Offer Working Families- Elisanta “Lisa” Batista
Without Unemployment Insurance, My Family Would Have To Choose Which Bills to Pay– Teresa “Tigger” Rey, Mom’s Rising
Good Education. Good experience. Still Unemployed– Theresa Witt
Holiday Fear– Christy Jones, AAUW
Unemployment, Congress, and People Like Me– Danielle Jackson, National Women’s Law Center
The Pathways Back to Work Act: A Must-Pass Piece of Legislation for Women– Julie Vogtman, National Women’s Law Center
Happy Holidays, Congress! It’s Time to Extend UI– Julie Vogtman, National Women’s Law Center
“No Christmas for Congress” Unless UI is Extended– Anna McClure, National Women’s Law Center
November’s Drop in Unemployment News Leaves Vulnerable Groups Behind- Abby Lane, National Women’s Law Center
Action Alert: Tell Congress to Extend Unemployment Insurance- YWCA USA
Navigating Unemployment– Jen, Mom’s Rising
Women, the Economy, and Unemployment Insurance– Angel Savoy, Metro DC Chapter, Coalition of Labor Union Women
Unemployment Insurance, Good For People, Good For Country– Sherry Saudners, Business and Professional Women’s Foundation
Women and the Unemployment Crisis– National Association of Social Workers
Surviving a Corporate War on the Middle Class– Verlene Jones, Seattle Washington, Coalition of Labor Union Women
Extend Unemployment Benefits, But Don’t Stop There- Lindsay Beyerstein, Ms. Magazine Blog
Photo from Flickr user bytemarks under Creative Commons 2.0.
