SHERROD BROWN ON OHIO UNEMPLOYMENT

November 18, 2008

Dear Faye,

2008 has been a challenging year for the middle class in Ohio and throughout the country. Since August, workers at more than 50 Ohio companies have received notices of layoffs or plant closings, according to the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services. Beyond the devastating effects on workers and their families, these job losses can take a tremendous toll on small businesses that rely on local consumer spending.
Communities across the state are facing job loss—from DHL's layoffs in Wilmington, GM's cutbacks in Moraine and Lordstown, or the Archway Cookie closure in Ashland no Ohio community is immune to the employment squeeze. Coupled with an economic slowdown that makes new jobs hard to come by, more Ohioans are in need of unemployment insurance for longer periods of time. These critical funds help displaced workers feed their families and keep their homes as they look for new work.

And that is why I am calling on Congress to pass legislation - this week - that would extend unemployment insurance benefits to those who need it most.

Since October, more than 50,000 Ohioans have exhausted their emergency federal funds. With an Ohio unemployment rate of 7.2 percent and a national unemployment rate of 6.5 percent, workers and their families need unemployment insurance to make ends meet. Extending unemployment insurance helps families on the brink. It is also one of the best ways to stimulate the economy.

When Americans lose jobs, their families suffer, the economy suffers, and our nation suffers. Unemployment insurance allows Americans looking for jobs to care for their families and keep their financial commitments. Unemployment insurance is used for food; it is used to pay the rent. It is used to pay utility bills; it is used for transportation to job interviews. These are dollars that stay in the community, dollars that help the local hardware store, the local grocery store, dollars that provide other jobs in the community. There is no better stimulus than that.

To ensure your voice is heard in Washington, I invite you to email me your stories about unemployment insurance and why it matters to you. CLICK HERE TO SHARE YOUR STORY. It is important that Congress hears directly from you.

Sincerely,Sherrod Brown