Congressman Dan Kildee Tells Stories of Unemployed Michiganders at "Witness Wednesdays', Pushes for Vote on Bipartisan Legislation to Extend Emergency Unemployment Insurance

Press Release

Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05) today read the stories of long-term unemployed Michiganders outside the U.S. Capitol to highlight their continued struggles of out of work Americans and to push for a vote in Congress to immediately extend emergency unemployment insurance. The event centered around older and younger Americans who continue to struggle to make ends meet as congressional inaction continues.

Today's event, dubbed "Witness Wednesdays,' is part of a weekly series that seeks to put a personal face on the now 3.3 million Americans -- including 113,500 Michiganders -- who have lost their vital benefits since they expired on December 28, 2013. Congressman Kildee was joined by other Members of Congress, including Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (MD-05) and Representative Chris Van Hollen (MD-08), as well as organizations including Social Security Works and the U.S. Student's Association.

Studies show that the effects of long-term unemployment have a disproportionate effect on seniors and young Americans. Some 40 percent of seniors are seeking early retirement as a result of job losses, and many seniors who are part of the long-term unemployed have dug into their retirement accounts once their unemployment insurance expired, according to the American Association of Retired People.

"Congress' failure to extend unemployment benefits has failed more than three million Americans, who through no fault of their own are being punished by those in Congress who refuse to act," Congressman Kildee said. "Many of these unemployed workers are older Americans who have played by the rules and worked their entire lives, only to have a temporary setback and are now on the verge of losing everything. Many have emptied their retirement savings or sold their possessions to put food on the table. That's not the American Dream. Congress needs to act before it is too late for tens of thousands of older Americans who are actively looking for work but have yet to find their next job."

Congressman Kildee today shared the story of Staranne, 61, an Otisville, Mich., resident who was recently laid off from her job. Her story is as follows:

"I became recently unemployed, as the job I've held for the past 15 years was eliminated," Staranne said. "I have been working since I was 15. I have a college degree, excellent work reviews and a wide range of work experience over the past 46 years. There are two people in my household. Both are 61-- one is working and one is no longer working but trying to. The one still working has no way of making up this loss [of income] […] The vehicle has a for sale sign in the window, and it is listed on the internet. If it is sold, getting a job and keeping it will be even that much harder."

Meanwhile, the unemployment rate for American workers under 25 is more than twice as high as that of the general population, according to recent reports by the Economic Policy Institute.

"As our economy recovers, younger Americans, many of whom just graduated from college, continue to struggle to find full-time work," Congressman Kildee said. "These students are just starting their careers but are already being set back by congressional inaction. It's time for Speaker Boehner and House Republican leadership to take up my bill and extend a much-needed lifeline to temporarily provide assistance as they look for a full-time job."

"The challenges of long-term unemployment are especially painful for older workers: employers seem to feel they're too old to hire, but they're too young to retire," said Katherine McFate, president and CEO of the Center for Effective Government, which co-hosted today's 'Witness Wednesdays' event. "Workers over 50 are watching the assets it took them a lifetime to acquire draining away. It's far past time for Congress to act."

Congressman Kildee has been a strong advocate for extending emergency unemployment benefits since their expiration on December 28, 2013. He recently introduced bipartisan legislation in the House, identical to a version introduced by Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Dean Heller (R-NV), to extend emergency unemployment insurance. The bill was introduced in the House with four Democrats and four Republicans cosponsoring the bill.

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