Gov. Pat Quinn wants Congress to help people who have been unemployed a long time.
The Chicago Democrat is calling on lawmakers in Washington to extend unemployment for people whose benefits are about to run out.
Quinn and 21 other governors signed a letter sent to Congress. The letter says 400,000 people nationwide could exhaust their benefits by this month.
Quinn’s office says 13,000 families in Illinois have already exhausted their benefits and 40,000 more people could see financial help dry up if Congress doesn’t do something.
Out-of-work Illinoisans can get up to 79 weeks of unemployment insurance benefits. About 450,000 people in the state are currently collecting benefits, according to Quinn’s office.
The state unemployment rate was 10.4 percent in July, the latest figures available.
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