The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

Amid the worst recession in 30 years and an unemployment rate stuck at 9.5 percent, the Senate has voted 12 times to extend emergency unemployment benefits and allow eligible workers to collect up to 99 weeks of benefits instead of the usual 26 in most states. But a review of senators' voting record shows support for these extensions among moderates beginning to erode despite the clear need for them and the fact that unemployment benefits are considered one of the better tools for stimulating the economy during a recession.

Local government job losses could reach 500,000, according to a new joint survey from the National League of Cities (NLC), United States Conference of Mayors, and the National Association of Counties.

The Senate leadership is likely to try again this week to bring a bill to the floor that will extend unemployment insurance and COBRA benefits, after losing two procedural votes last week.

A new study released by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) finds that although Asian Americans have the lowest unemployment rate of the major racial groups, in reality, the picture of Asian-American unemployment is more complicated when examined by education level.

With nearly 10 percent of American workers officially unemployed, civil and human rights groups recently joined with unemployed workers to push Congress to enact more aggressive legislation to end the jobs crisis and create opportunities for the future.