vera volk had 20 years if biotech research. immunology. she is now barely getting by on emergency compensation set to run out in two weeks. vera testified before congress this month and will share her story here with us today. at the table is timothy noah. author of america's crisis and what we can do about it and contributing writer for msnbc.com. along with vera volk who has been looking for wok since she lost her job in may. a republican polk foirm i firm and simone campbell, director of national catholic social justice organization. thank you all for being here to joan this conversation. and vera, i wanted to start with your take and i'm so grateful to you for being here. i think a lot of people would be spreezed to hear about your education background. they pay have stereotypes in their mind who the long-term unemployed are and what they look leak. tell us a little bit about how you lost your job and what the process has been like trying to find work in this economy. >> i lost my job because of lack of funding with the, in

unemployment compensation benefits if this congress fails to renew this act prior to 2014, my name is vera may volklive in lynn, massachusetts. i have earned a bachelor's degree in microbiology, a masters degree in immunology. i worked over 20 years in the biotech pharmaceutical industry in various positions and under various functions both in academia. i invested four years with a company developing a very vital diagnostic tool for cancer and test development. i was laid off in may 2013 due to lack of funding that was complicated by the sequester earlier in the year. i am deeply engaged in job searching, spending at least eight hours a day in front of my computer networking, searching job boards, being involved in professional groups. i have posted over 50 resumes on job searches and to companies. i am applying to jobs like lisa at all levels, even including entry level. i'm actively engaged in wind networking group which consists of professionals throughout the massachusetts area. i have attended job search workshops, pursued job postings. as the seventh month of my job search begins, i continue

unemployment compensation benefits if this congress fails to renew this act prior to 2014, my name is vera may volk. i live in lynn, massachusetts. i have earned a bachelor's degree in microbiology, a masters degree in immunology. i worked over 20 years in the biotech pharmaceutical industry in various positions and under various functions both in academia. i invested four years with a company developing a very vital diagnostic tool for cancer and test development. i was laid off in may 2013 due to lack of funding that was complicated by the sequester earlier in the year. i am deeply engaged in job searching, spending at least eight hours a day in front of my computer networking, searching job boards, being involved in professional groups. i have posted over 50 resumes on job searches and to companies. i am applying to jobs like lisa at all levels, even including entry level. i'm actively engaged in wind networking group which consists of professionals throughout the massachusetts area. i have attended job search workshops, pursued job postings. as the seventh month of my job search begins, i conti