Remember the words of Mordecai to Esther: “For if you keep silent at such a time as this…you and your father’s family will perish.” (NRSV-Esther 4:14)
It is unbelievable and disheartening that Congress is considering using children to “pay for” the unemployment insurance (UI) extension. It would be funded with money from needy, tax-paying immigrant families who receive the child tax credit–noted for reducing child poverty. This could affect 5.5 million children. What an outrage!
We, in the faith community, must make some noise. We must not keep silent.
Please call your members of Congress on Tuesday, February 14, toll-free 888-245-3381 or use this easy Click-to-Call page to connect with your members of Congress. Go here for more information.
Please spread the word. Make sure your networks, friends, and co-workers know about calling on Tuesday. Make it your Valentine’s Day gift to unemployed workers across this nation.
Tell your representative and senators that Congress must act to fully renew unemployment insurance without denying the child tax credit to millions of working poor families. This is a crucial time for the Congressional conference committee that is supposed to work out a full-year renewal of federal unemployment insurance — and every member of the U.S. House and Senate needs to hear that message loud and clear.
–Sandy Irving, Volunteer Program Associate
