WASHINGTON, D.C. - The House of Representatives today voted in overwhelming bipartisan support of legislation to extend unemployment benefits to millions of workers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own and cannot find work. The bill, H.R. 6867, was introduced in September by House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles B. Rangel (D-NY) and Income Security and Family Support Subcommittee Chairman Jim McDermott (D-WA). Chairman McDermott’s subcommittee has jurisdiction over unemployment insurance and Chairman Rangel has made helping the American people weather the current economic downturn a top priority of the Ways and Means Committee. H.R. 6867 now moves to the U.S. Senate for consideration.
“Our economy has shed jobs every single month of this year," said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles B. Rangel. “People are hurting with no end in sight. It is our responsibility as a Congress to stand up and help them weather these tough economic times. Extending unemployment benefits now will mean nearly a million families can keep food on their tables, roofs over their heads and some peace of mind while they continue searching for a job this fall. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to do the right thing and pass this bill now."
“Now more than ever, we have to demonstrate that Congress can respond to the needs of Main Street, and extending unemployment benefits is a major step toward restoring the wavering trust of the American people in their government and the House has done just that by passing this legislation," Rep. Jim McDermott said.
In brief, H.R. 6867:
· Would provide seven additional weeks of extended benefits for those who have exhausted their UI benefits across the country.
· Would provide 13 more weeks of unemployment benefits for workers in states with high unemployment, defined as a three month average of 6 percent or higher.
· Is paid for through the existing federal unemployment trust fund.
· Is estimated to distribute about $6 billion in benefits.
· Without this legislation, nearly 800,000 workers are expected to run out of their current extended benefits in October. This number will grow to 1.1 million by the end of calendar year 2008.R. 6867.
