Sample Letter to the Editor
Published December 4th, 2003 in the Dekalb (IL) Chronicle

Urge Speaker Hastert to extend jobless benefits
by Cecil Sells

Editor:
As we head into the holiday season millions of our fellow Americans face bleak prospects for the new year. In September, there were 8.9 million unemployed workers. What's worse, 23.2 percent of the jobless are long-term unemployed, that's the highest monthly total in 20 years. Day after day we hear of more plant closings, more lay-offs, and more jobs going overseas. Week after week we hear of billions of dollars being sent overseas to Iraq. Yet our Congress can't seem to find the funds to help our fellow Americans here at home.

Tuesday will be the last chance for Congress to continue the extended benefits program, due to expire Dec. 21. If Congress does not extend the program, 90,000 workers a week will lose out on extended unemployment benefits. From January to June, 96,608 workers in Illinois alone will run out of extended benefits.

These unemployed workers are not looking for a handout, they are only looking for a hand up. Please take a moment on Monday to write or call Speaker Dennis Hastert to let him know you support the extended benefits program for unemployed workers.
Speaker Dennis Hastert
Phone: (202) 225-2976
Fax: (202) 225-0697
E-mail: dhastert@mail.house.gov.

CECIL SELLS
Sycamore