Unemployment insurance is set to expire for the long-term unemployed . Christine Owens : By the time the program is phased out in September , half a million workers in 35 states will have lost these crucial final weeks of unemployment insurance . Unemployment rate is so high , we can not leave the hardest-hit behind . She says if measure of a nation is how it treats its unfortunate , we 're looking into abyss . The unemployment benefits are scheduled to run out at midnight on Friday and Congress has been unable to reach an agreement over whether they should be extended or not. Congress ca n't allow what 's left of unemployment insurance to expire .
Unemployment insurance is set to expire for the long-term unemployed . Christine Owens : Unemployment rate is so high , we can not leave the hardest-hit behind . She says if measure of a nation is how it treats its unfortunate , we 're looking into abyss . The unemployment benefits are scheduled to run out at midnight on Friday and Congress has been unable to reach an agreement over whether they should be extended or not. Congress ca n't allow what 's left of unemployment insurance to expire .