Approximately 1.3 Americans who have been out of work for weeks, months or year and, as of right now, the emergency assistance through Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) is being cut off.
According to CBS News, Congress has failed to extend the federal program and it will lapse Saturday. In the first six months of 2014 it is predicted that an additional 1.9 million Americans will also lose their benefits, making it 3.6 million people.
In a press statement made by the White House President Obama has made it clear that it does not make sense for these 1.3 million people to lose their benefits. Senator Reed and Senator Heller have put forth legislation to extend the EUC. Obama urges everyone in Congress to pass this legislation so that these people will not be without a safety net.
Obama interrupted a brief moment in his holiday to make calls to both Sen. Reed and Heller to offer his support for their legislation, according to The Washington Post. The president also stated that he is glad the two senators are working in a bipartisan fashion to get this legislation passed.
39 percent of people surveyed said that they would be less likely to support their Congressman if they opposed this bill.
Congress plans to make this the first bill of action when they return.