Politics & Government

Tsongas Uses Letter From Chelmsford Woman on House Floor

Congresswoman Niki Tsongas spoke on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday urging a renewal of unemployment insurance using a letter from a Chelmsford resident in her remarks.

Tsongas shared statements from three e-mails she received from constituents urging an extension of assistance for unemployment insurance, including a woman from Chelmsford identified as “Katie.”

In the letter read by Tsongas, “Katie” was laid off in April and urged the extension of benefits.

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“(I) have looked for a job since then with no luck in spite of the news reports about the economy and how great the job market is, we all know that is not true,” wrote Katie. “I know so many folks still looking for jobs in Massachusetts – all well educated, well qualified good people.”

According to a statement from Tsongas, House Republican leadership has so far not allowed a vote on the issue, earlier this month House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) said Republicans would consider an extension as long as it was tied to other unemployment efforts and that it be fully funded by the federal government.  

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