WASHINGTON, D.C. - In response to the growing number of workers losing their jobs and the high number of long-term unemployed workers, the House Committee on Ways and Means today passed bipartisan legislation to provide an immediate extension of unemployment benefits nationwide. H.R. 5749, the Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation Act, was introduced by Ways and Means Income Security and Family Support Subcommittee Chairman Jim McDermott (D-WA) and Committee Member Phil English (R-PA) last week to address the growing concerns of this recent economic downturn. H.R. 5479 passed the committee by a vote of 24 to 13.
"This bill demonstrates our commitment to act quickly and responsibly," said Income Security and Family Support Subcommittee Chairman Jim McDermott (D-WA). "The economy is in trouble, the American people are in trouble; and we intend to help. If ever there was a time when the American people expected action out of Congress, this is it."
The Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation Act would:
* Immediately provide up to 13 weeks of extended unemployment benefits in every State.
* Provide an additional 13 weeks (for a total of 26) in States with high unemployment (six percent or higher)
* Be financed by the federal unemployment trust funds, which now have more than enough reserves to cover the cost.
Without this legislation, a projected 3 to 3.5 million Americans will exhaust their unemployment benefits without finding work. Across America the unemployment rate is rising; nationally, the rate stands at 5.1% and leading economists believe the downturn has not yet bottomed out.R. 5749.
