WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In response to today’s announcement from the Department of Labor (DoL) that the number of unemployed Americans went up to more than 11 million - the highest level since 1983, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles B. Rangel (D-NY) and Income Security and Family Support Subcommittee Chairman Jim McDermott (D-WA) today reiterated their promise for greater assistance for jobless workers. DoL figures released today indicated that 524,000 jobs were lost in December alone, with 2.6 million jobs lost during 2008. The national unemployment rate also jumped to 7.2 percent, the highest since 1993. The Committee on Ways and Means has jurisdiction over the unemployment insurance system.
“Helping the jobless is always important, but today it is absolutely essential," said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles B. Rangel. “Our economy will not recover if we leave millions of unemployed workers without adequate income to pay the rent or buy groceries. We know President-Elect Obama shares our desire to help unemployed workers in the upcoming economic recovery bill. We are planning a vigorous response to the worst recession in generations."
Subcommittee Chairman Jim McDermott followed, “Too many unemployed workers are denied access to jobless benefits. And when they are available, unemployed benefits too often fail to get a worker and his or her family above the poverty line. Correcting these problems is not only good for unemployed families, but it also represents one of the most effective forms of economic stimulus because the money is spent very quickly. We must act swiftly to provide this vital lifeline."
Subcommittee Chairman McDermott introduced two bills yesterday to improve assistance for unemployed workers: The Unemployment Insurance Modernization Act, which passed the House during the last Congress and would provide up to $7 billion to States improving access to unemployment benefits, and the Unemployment Supplemental Assistance Act, which would temporarily increase the amount of UI weekly benefits by $50. (The average unemployment benefit is now just below $300 a week - 91% of the poverty level for a family of three.)
Members of the Ways and Means Committee have met with economic advisors to President-elect Obama and outlined their strong support for including provisions improving and expanding unemployment benefits in the pending economic recovery package.
