WASHINGTON, D.C. - The House of Representatives today overwhelmingly passed bipartisan legislation to provide an immediate 13 week extension of unemployment benefits nationwide. The provision reflects an agreement between Congressional Democrats and Republicans as well as the Bush Administration to extend economic relief to millions of Americans who are out of work through no fault of their own. The unemployment benefit extension was included in an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2008 Supplemental Appropriations Bill, which will be considered by the U.S. Senate in the coming days.
“Extending unemployment benefits should not be a Democratic or Republican position because it strikes at the very heart of our economy, the middle-class," said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles B. Rangel (D-NY). “This provision will give immediate relief to millions of families nationwide who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own and are afraid that their American dream is fading. This bill does not provide all of the benefits we would have liked, but it is a critical step for those families struggling to find work and get by in this economic downturn. To those living in states that have experienced dramatic increases in unemployment recently, I pledge to you, we will be paying careful attention to the economy and the employment situation and stand ready to act again to provide relief to those who need it most."
“Today, we will pass a 13-week emergency extension of unemployment insurance benefits; it is long overdue, it will help, but it is not enough," said Income Security and Family Support Subcommittee Chairman Jim McDermott (D-WA). “This bill represents the best we can get out of a lame-duck President and Senate Republicans. But, the American people have been hit hard by the economic calamity rooted in the disastrous policies of this Administration and they deserve better than this."
Language included in Amendment #2 to the FY 2008 Supplemental Appropriations Bill would:
* Provide up to 13 weeks of extended unemployment benefits in every state to workers exhausting the 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits.
This extension is needed because of the worsening economic situation nationwide:
* For five consecutive months, the U.S. economy has lost jobs. In total, 324,000 jobs have disappeared.
* 1.6 million workers are long-term unemployed (jobless for more than 26 weeks), representing nearly one out of every five jobless workers.
* The number of long-term unemployed Americans is higher now than when Congress last extended unemployment benefits in 2002.
* Extending unemployment benefits will also help stimulate an economic recovery. CBO states that extending unemployment benefits is one of the most cost-effective and fastest-acting forms of economic stimulus because the money is spent quickly.
