This past weekend, I met at the Philadelphia Unemployment Project with a conference room full of men and women, all with much to be proud of about their careers, families and accomplishments. All have been laid off in a historically difficult economic environment created in large part by past government failures to reign in Wall Street, have proper oversight of the housing market, and be generally accountable to working families.

A middle-aged gentleman had lost his manufacturing job after two decades at the same company. One woman spoke of her 65-year-old out-of-work husband who could not find employment or afford retirement. Another with a half dozen preexisting conditions was emptying her 401K to pay for medical expenses.

Losing one's job is difficult enough. But losing one's health care along with it -- and worrying about being able to get treatment for oneself and one's family, or fearing bankruptcy in the event of injury or illness -- is something Americans should not have to cope with in this difficult time.

I was proud to be part of the effort that included nine months of COBRA premium assistance in last February's Economic Stimulus Bill. This measure has eased the burden of skyrocketing health costs on those who have lost their jobs during the economic downturn.

More than nine months later, as we continue to dig ourselves out of a devastating recession with unemployment at 10 percent, that benefit is expiring. A crowded legislative agenda, even with importance of passing health insurance reform, is no excuse for inaction. We must extend this assistance and a bill I have sponsored in the House (HR 3930) would provide the 65 percent subsidy for six more months (up to 15), and allow those laid off in the first six months of 2010 to qualify as well.

Hundreds of Americans from all across the country have contacted my office because they cannot afford the expense of COBRA on their own. If forced to drop their health care, many with preexisting conditions will not be able get coverage again in the individual market.

A 63-year old Veteran from California wrote to me that, with his benefits having run out, COBRA costs $1,600 a month for him and his wife. Laid off in early February, he and his wife are still trying to put their youngest son through college, while his preexisting condition (prostate cancer) has driven up the price of healthcare.

One Pennsylvania woman at the event spoke to our group about the peace of mind it would bring her and her family if the COBRA subsidy was extended, keeping their premiums from ballooning from $400 a month to more than $1,000 a month.

A gentleman from Virginia traveled more than two hours to have his voice heard after his assistance expired December 1. He described extending COBRA benefits as a lifeline for millions of Americans trying to avoid the pain of foreclosure and/or bankruptcy.

Just watch the video above and you will see some of the faces of the 15 million Americans looking for work, 5.4 million of whom have been without a job for at least 27 weeks. These are middle class, hardworking people who want to provide for themselves and their loved ones, but have been victims of a treacherous economy. They have suffered the most from the mistakes of others and should not have to decide between trying to meet an enormous expense or going without health care. With the end of the year approaching, time is running out.

Please sign our petition; write and call you Senators and Representatives; contact the Congressional leadership on both sides of the aisle; and tell your friends and family to do all of the above. This is not a Democrat or Republican, progressive or conservative, issue. Extending COBRA represents part of an often-forgotten responsibility to America's working families, who were the engine driving our prosperity, but now, through no fault of their own, still bear the brunt of this recession.