Mark Dayton: “dislocated workers in Minnesota and throughout America need assistance now. The Nation's unemployment rate took another…”

“dislocated workers in Minnesota and throughout America need assistance now. The Nation's unemployment rate took another big leap upward in November, to 5.7 percent, the highest level in 6 years. An additional 331,000 Americans lost their jobs last month. For these families, there is no time to waste. As many of us worry about what to buy our loved ones for the holidays, unemployed workers are worrying about how to provide for their families. Unemployment benefits are running out and savings are being depleted. Laid-off workers are left worrying about how they will pay for the basic necessities of life; housing, clothing, food, and health insurance for their families. In Minnesota, the Department of Economic Security reported the number of applications for unemployment benefits increased nearly 24 percent this November compared to November of last year. Today there are 55,000 workers receiving unemployment assistance in Minnesota, with an additional 55,000 unemployed who receive no unemployment assistance. As the State of Minnesota faces a budget deficit of almost $2 billion, the problem is only getting worse. Today, Minneapolis-based Sun Country Airlines announced that it will immediately lay off 900 employees. This underscores the immediate need for Congress to help America's financially pressed unemployed now. We must extend unemployment insurance for laid-off workers, putting money into the hands of dislocated workers and their families.”