Tsongas Cites Westford Resident on Floor of Congress

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 Westford 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 man from Westford named “Clark.”

In the letter read by Tsongas, “Clark” said that he has two children in college and uses money from this program to survive.

“I have been able to work eight months this year in over three jobs, but all were temporary positions that did not lead to full-time employment,” wrote Clark. “The economy is not yet hot enough to create enough full-time jobs and without this money our family will not make it. Please find the money to pay for extending this program as it is saving our lives.” 

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.