The following is from the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, civilrights.org:

Take Action Now:  Join The Leadership Conference and stand up for our nation’s jobless workers. Call your senators TODAY at 202-224-3121 and urge them to extend federal unemployment benefits through the end of 2011. 

As the holiday season approaches, millions of Americans searching for jobs in an ailing economy face the possibility of their federal unemployment benefits being eliminated on November 30. If Congress fails to immediately extend benefits, more than two million jobless workers will lose their benefits in December. Therefore, Congress must vote this year to extend these critical benefits for working Americans.  

According to U.S. Census Bureau data, unemployment benefits prevented more than 3.3 million Americans — including one million children — from falling into poverty last year. These unemployment benefits have also been a key stimulus for our economy, helping it to recover more quickly. Jobless workers need these benefits to pay bills and pump money back into the economy supporting businesses. Extending unemployment benefits helps the economy recover while providing sorely needed assistance to those suffering the most.

Since the 1950s, Congress has never failed to extend unemployment benefits when the unemployment rate was higher than 7.2 percent. Struggling families cannot afford for these benefits to expire on November 30 — neither can our nation’s economy. It is now more important than ever that Congress take steps to help the jobless before another family is pushed to the brink of poverty.

Join The Leadership Conference and stand up for our nation’s jobless workers. Call your senators TODAY at 202-224-3121 and urge them to extend federal unemployment benefits through the end of 2011.