Washington (February 6, 2014) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) released the following statement after Senate Republicans blocked efforts to extend emergency unemployment assistance for three months, until the end of March:

 

“By again turning their backs on Americans looking for work, Senate Republicans are going for the gold medal in cold-hearted obstructionism. Republicans refuse to work together to solve even the most basic of issues for Americans.

 

“There are 60,000 people in Massachusetts who depend on this assistance to feed their families and heat their homes, even as they continue to look for jobs that are still hard to come by.

 

“Families from Massachusetts to Montana face the harsh reality that they may not be able to make ends meet this month.  That is unacceptable.

 

“I call on my Republican colleagues to stop their obstructionism and work with Democrats to pass bipartisan legislation that will help Americans who are out of work through no fault of their own.”