Thousands of jobless Arkansans got a much-needed lifeline Tuesday when Senator Blanche Lincoln and Senator Mark Pryor joined 58 other Senate colleagues to extend unemployment insurance to people impacted by the economic downturn.

With almost 3 million unemployed workers in the country and roughly 100,000 right here in Arkansas, this vote guarantees families will have some assistance in meeting their critical needs each month while those without jobs look for work. These unemployment benefits will quickly turnover in our economy, providing a much needed boost. This funding equates to almost 400,000 jobs nationwide.

Tuesday's action was critically important, but it is only one step needed to ensure our long-term recovery. We call on Congress to extend the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's state fiscal assistance and TANF Emergency Funds. Without these federal funding programs, Arkansas families are at risk of seeing more essential programs reduced or eliminated.

Please be sure to contact both Sen. Pryor and Sen. Lincoln to thank them for their vote this week. And encourage them to press their colleagues to take the next step in securing a full economic recovery.