WASHINGTON, DC – On Monday evening, U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) will take to the floor of the U.S. Senate to advocate for the urgent need to extend the federal unemployment insurance program (EUC), which benefits the long-term unemployed, and to share the stories of New Jersey residents who have been struggling for months to find a job.

In the past, during periods of high unemployment – and throughout the recent recession – the federal government has offered emergency unemployment insurance benefits for the jobless. But on December 28, the program lapsed for 1.3 million workers – more than 90,000 of them in New Jersey, a percentage higher than any other state. It marked the first time Congress had ever allowed EUC to expire when the long-term unemployment rate was as high as it is today. Each week since the lapse, another 70,000 laid off workers reach the end of their state benefits, which typically last six months, and there are still roughly three job seekers for every job opening. Failing to renew long-term unemployment insurance will cost the U.S. 240,000 jobs in 2014, and hurt families.

“In 2012, 2.5 million people were pulled out of poverty by unemployment compensation, of whom 600,000 were children,” according to a report by the President’s Council of Economic Advisers and the Department of Labor. “By the end of 2014, almost 3.6 million children will be directly affected by the loss of benefits by someone in their household.”

During the last few weeks, Booker has held a dozen events across New Jersey to speak directly with long-term unemployed residents and their families, small business owners and non-profit leaders about the impact of Congress’s failure to pass an extension of emergency unemployment insurance.

This will be Sen. Booker’s first speech from the Senate floor since he was sworn into office on October 31.

*Time is approximate and for press planning purposes only.

WHO: U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ)

WHEN: TODAY
5:45 PM, Mon, Feb. 3, 2014

WHERE: Senate Floor

Accessible live at www.booker.senate.gov