Millions of children are being affected by congressional Republicans' refusal to extend emergency unemployment aid:
In the average month in 2013, there were 2.3 million children whose parents had been jobless for six months or more. Now, those parents have lost unemployment insurance and Republicans are holding up an extension of the aid. Bryce Covert points out that these kids were struggling even before their families lost this lifeline:
Research shows that a parent’s unemployment has a negative impact on children. Studies have found that children whose parents lose their jobs have lower math scores, worse school attendance, a higher risk of needing to repeat a grade, and a bigger chance of being suspended or expelled. The impacts are also felt later on, as these children have lower rates of college attendance and their future earnings can be diminished.
But if it's even possible, Republicans are less interested in passing legislation to create jobs than they are in extending unemployment insurance.
Sign and send a petition to your Republican senator or senators, demanding that they restore benefits to the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program.