While the overall unemployment rate is falling, it has remained stubbornly high for the long-term jobless, those out of work for twenty-six weeks or longer. If Congress doesn't act to extend the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program, 1.3 million of these Americans will lose their unemployment benefits before the end of the year. Another 850,000 will be cut off by March, 2014.

Join The Nation and Daily Kos in calling on Congress not to leave the long-term unemployed out in the cold. Contact your representative now and tell them to make sure an extension of the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program is included in any budget deal.

At Think Progress, Bryce Covert details the struggles of families whose lives will be upended if Congress fails to act.

In this CNN Money Report, long-term unemployed Americans talk about the difficulties they face while they struggle to find work.