By Emily Stover DeRocco

The events of September 11 have affected each of us either directly or indirectly, changing our lives forever. Our economy had been slowing for many months before the terrorist attacks, and the ripple effects from the September 11 tragedies accelerated and magnified the economic downturn. Our nation is currently wrestling with these lingering impacts as workers are facing unemployment and businesses are not growing.

President Bush and Secretary Chao are committed to helping workers during this difficult time and have announced a series of strategies that will provide quick and immediate relief. These include providing extended unemployment compensation in states most affected by rising unemployment and COBRA continuation coverage for workers laid off as a result of September 11. These are services that we are prepared to enact immediately, upon congressional approval, for the benefit of unemployed workers who need help.

Both the President and Secretary are also looking at ways to strengthen the newly created One-Stop Career Center system and the array of services already available such as job referral and matching, resume writing and job search workshops, and dislocated worker employment and training assistance.

While the going seems tough right now, we must all remember that the American economy has a tremendous capacity to “bounce back.” When the economy starts growing again, it will be important that our training programs are targeted to equip people with skills for occupations-in-demand and that we work to alleviate future labor and skills shortages due to the aging baby boomer population.

The opportunities for job and career growth will be immense, and I am committed to meeting any challenge that comes our way. Together, we will continue to build pathways to economic liberty and prosperity for working Americans.

By Senator Edward M. Kennedy

Since September 11th, the courageous acts of countless Americans have set a new standard for the nation. As the whole world watched the horror on television, it also witnessed what is best in our country and our character. As buildings collapsed, the American spirit soared.

The indelible images of the first days will live on in all the days of our history. Firefighters and police risked their lives and gave their lives to save others, and hundreds of rescuers paid the ultimate price. Construction and health workers went into the shadow of constant danger to search for the missing and help the survivors. And public employees have been at the front lines of delivering benefits to workers who have lost jobs in the economic wake of September 11.

It is more imperative than ever to help those who have been laid off, so that families can continue to put food on the table and pay their other bills. That is why we must immediately extend unemployment insurance coverage for an additional 13 weeks. Not only would we help affected workers, but this would also help to stimulate the economy for the unemployed are on the front line of the economic battle, and they spend their funds immediately.

We must also extend unemployment insurance coverage to part-time and low-wage workers, who often do not qualify for any benefits at all today, and who can least afford to lose their wages. We must raise unemployment benefits by 15 percent for all workers. Today’s average payment of $230 a week is not enough.

We must add funding for job training programs, to help laid-off workers prepare for and find new jobs. Good skills are the key to a better future for these workers and their families. In addition, we must protect health insurance for working families by having the federal government cover 75 percent of the cost of insurance premiums for 12 months after a worker loses a job. We must also allow states to cover workers who do not qualify for such a plan. We know that when workers lose their jobs, they lose their health insurance, too. These elements – unemployment insurance, job training and health coverage for workers between jobs – are essential to any national economic stimulus plan. Let us pledge our energies to this cause. Let us show that, as the battle goes on for a world free from fear, the work goes on to move America forward.