Congressman Peters Talks Unemployment

myFOXDetroit.com Staff - A local lawmaker met with concerned Metro Detroiters today about the need for extended unemployment benefits.

Congressman Gary Peters spoke with residents in Troy on Saturday afternoon to discuss how important it is that Congress pass an extension.

The Senate failed to approve emergency benefits earlier in the week. The program is now set to expire on Sunday kicking hundreds of thousands of Americans off the unemployment roles.

More than 100-thousand people in Michigan will exhaust their unemployment insurance benefits in March without an extension. There's 10-thousand people in Oakland County alone that will be affected.

The Senate is not expected to reconvene until Tuesday. It can still pass an extension next week.

Former Tiger, Senator Jim Bunning of Kentucky was the lone vote that defeated the most recent Senate proposal.

Congressman Peters is urging residents to call Senator Bunnings's office to complain.

His number is 202-224-4343. The fax number is 202-228-1373.

You can also write Senator Bunning at:
316 Hart Senate Office Building,
Washington,D.C 20510

You can email him by clicking here.

Fox 2's Simon Shaykhet has the latest on the Congressman's visit to Metro Detroit on Saturday.

Click on the video player to the left to watch his report.