The Workforce Opportunity Act was developed to help single mothers get into the workforce and off of public assistance so they could better provide for their families. Unfortunately this Act is stigmatizing and degrading and was not implemented in the best interest of these mothers. Everyone knows that having a good education is the key to getting a good job, yet this Act does not fully support women who are returning to school to further their education. This Act needs to be amended with better programs and services to help single mothers like myself help ourselves.

We elected Barack Obama to fight for the middle class, NOT to destroy the middle class by changing the age of Medicare eligibility and cutting the cost of living on Social Security. Seniors like me can't afford to wait until we're 67 -- and trimming Social Security just means more of a burden on middle class families. Tell our elected officials to HOLD THE LINE on Medicare and Social Security!

Route 30 which runs North and South through the towns of Aurora, Oswego, and Plainfield has been in the headlines for numerous fatal accidents. This road is two lanes, very dark, and the speed limit is 45mph, which all lead to numerous fatalities. How many victims need to die before they fix this problem?

I went to Virginia William’s building—a place that helps homeless people to get help with getting placed into a shelter or any place that would take my children and I. I went through all of the paperwork and did everything they asked me to. In the end, I was told that they had no place for us. I can understand, however, because many people are facing homelessness. But, so what that meant for my family is everyday staying from place to place. I had been staying between a family member house and a friend’s house. That was temporary and my family is no longer able to stay at either person’s house now. Now, I am at the end of my rope. Currently we stay in a hotel; since this Friday. I do not have means to pay for another night. So do we sleep on a park bench or will they help me if I go back to them on this Monday? That is what I am hoping for. The reason for my petition is to bring my situation to the attention of anybody who will care and help. No family should be refused to be place in a shelter and turned away back to the streets.

People who got laid off in 2008-2011 got 99 weeks of unemployment due to the Federal unemployment assistance program. However, all of these extensions expire as of Jan 2 - so those who got laid off after June in 2012 only get the regular 26 weeks of unemployment. The unemployment rate is higher than it was in 2008-2010, and it is next to impossible to find work comparable to positions we were laid off from in 6 months. According to the NJ Governors office, all of these who got laid off in 2012, PLUS all of the 99 weekers will be hitting the welfare rolls come January if unemployment is not extended, which would be disastrous to the economy. Those who don't choose to seek welfare (such as myself) will be forced to work 60-80 hours a week at multiple minimum wage jobs, which will most likely NOT meet our living expenses, and not leave much time for looking for a full-time position that will. This petition is asking for a Tier 1 26-week extension for those who were laid off in 2012. We are not asking for 99 weeks, we are just asking for at least another 6 months to give us more of a chance to find a job that would at least come closer to meeting our living expenses than having to rush out and work at a minimum wage service job(s). Many of us have been working for years and thus have paid into the state unemployment system - we are not looking for handouts, just a fair shot at looking for QUALITY work like the 99-weekers have gotten!

Virginia's people cannot wait for more than 32 billion dollars in Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare benefits as the wealthy elite threaten to paralyze Congress. We depend on you to expose this stalling tactic for what it really is, a greedy ploy that preys on those who cannot afford to bargain.

People will become homeless after 12/12/12 when FEMA ends TSA for hotel lodging.

Increasing Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 67 would cause severe hardship for millions of seniors, who would be forced to deplete their savings or delay health care and suffer permanent damage to their health. This would be a terrible and inhumane price to pay for a barely noticeable decrease in the federal budget deficit. Moreover, individuals and businesses would find their health care costs increasing by more than the government spending would decrease, so any savings would be illusory. Not only would people age 65-66 have to pay for their health insurance, but everyone's premiums would increase as those older, less healthy people were added to the private insurance pool. At the same time, Medicare would lose its youngest and healthiest beneficiaries, so its cost per beneficiary would also increase. In summary, the society would gain absolutely nothing in return for the heavy burden imposed on people age 65-66.

Post offices all around me are scheduled to close, and lots of working class folks are about to lose their jobs. Tell Congress to support the U.S.P.S. - First class mail is the best bargain we have. In addition, pledge to send one card, postcard, or letter a week to support USPS and its workers. Everyone likes "real" mail, and hardly anyone sends it any more. Contact your politicians and also do your part!

In the past i have been homeless in Minneapolis. I would like to see the city of Mpls.Mn. prioritize its attention to the homelessness that still exists in this city. My main focus on the homelessness issues are drawn towards women, women of color and women with children. I am still personally affected by this crisis because,in my opinion, it has not been dealt with appropriately.

I am concerned that the common people receiving entitlements through Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are being unfairly singled out in resolution of the debt crisis. All citizens should share in the solution.

Why when we talk of entitlements do we only talk about Social Security and Medicare?