WASHINGTON - Ways and Means Committee Democrats this month unveiled the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act (H.R. 3346 ), legislation to extend federal unemployment insurance programs through 2012. The federal programs begin to expire in six weeks, and by early February more than two million Americans will be cut off unemployment insurance. Congress has never allowed federal unemployment insurance to expire with the unemployment rate as high as it stands today, at 9 percent.
H.R. 3346 was introduced by Ways and Means Human Resources Subcommittee Ranking Member Lloyd Doggett (D-TX).
Among the many organizations that have endorsed the legislation: AFL-CIO, AFSCME,¬ Building and Construction Trades Department, CLASP, Economic Policy Institute, Interfaith Worker Justice, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, MomsRising, National Employment Law Project, National Women’s Law Center, Service Employees International Union, UAW International Union, USAction, Working America.
STATEMENTS OF SUPPORT:
National Employment Law Project
“With the economic recovery so fragile, and with long-term unemployment still plaguing millions of workers, we cannot let the federal unemployment insurance programs that provide a lifeline for so many workers and their families expire at the end of this year. The consequences of doing so would be dire not just for those workers and their families, but for the economy as a whole. We look forward to working with these and other Members of Congress who are committed to helping out-of-work Americans get through these difficult times." -Christine Owens, Executive Director, National Employment Law Project
Service Employees International Union
"Unemployment insurance is a lifeline for millions of our fellow Americans who, through no fault of their own, have lost their jobs due to the Great Recession. Congress should eliminate uncertainty about the unemployment insurance program and act quickly to extend benefits so that hard working Americans who are desperately looking for jobs can regain their foothold in the labor market." -Mary Kay Henry, President, Service Employees International Union
UAW International Union
"The UAW strongly supports the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act and applauds Congressmen Doggett and Levin for introducing it and for spotlighting the need for Congress to extend the current federal UI programs. The federal benefits are a critical safety net for millions of middle class American workers who are not able to find a job in this post-recession economy. The programs also serve as an effective stimulus to the local and national economy because UI recipients spend their benefits near home to pay the rent or mortgage and to purchase food and clothing. We call on Congress to enact the Emergency EUC Act swiftly." -Bob King, President, UAW International Union
AFL-CIO
“The nation’s unemployed are not nameless, and they are not faceless. These are our family members, one-time co-workers, neighbors, church members, and friends. Like the rest of the country, they are fed up with a system that favors those at the very top while scapegoating workers and the unemployed. Extending unemployment benefits to those who need it should not be a debate. As people continue to demand equality for the 99 percent, we urge Congress to act quickly and pass the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act." -Richard Trumka, President, AFL-CIO
USAction
“USAction has collected more than a thousand stories from Americans who are un- or underemployed. We know firsthand how the jobs crisis has affected people from all walks of life. And we know what will happen if federal unemployment benefits are not extended. More people will lose their homes. More people will lose their health care. More people will exhaust their life savings. And more people will experience the mental and physical anguish that comes from being unable to put food on the table or pay the home heating bill. We commend Reps. Levin and Doggett for their action and call on Congress to do the right thing and not thrust millions of additional Americans into poverty." -Alan Charney, Director of Strategy and Policy, USAction
CLASP
“CLASP strongly supports the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act. State and federal unemployment assistance kept more than 3 million people from falling into poverty in 2010 alone. With long-term unemployment still at crisis levels, lawmakers should pass this bill to prevent millions of unemployed workers from experiencing even more hardship in the year ahead." -Alan Houseman, Executive Director, CLASP
Interfaith Worker Justice
“This is no time for Congress to turn its back on America’s unemployed workers. Interfaith Worker Justice, a network of religion-labor coalitions and worker centers prays that Congress passes HR 3346 before millions of hardworking Americans are cut off from their unemployment insurance. These are Americans who’ve been laid off and desperately want to get back to work, but the jobs are just not there. This program serves as a lifeline for millions of unemployed Americans and their families. These are people who have worked all their lives and never could have imagined being at risk of poverty and homelessness. But now, they’re at the mercy of the worst job market in generations. America needs to keep faith with its workers and those seeking a job. We need extended UI benefits; we need HR3346." -Kim Bobo, Executive Director, Interfaith Worker Justice
National Women’s Law Center
“There simply aren’t enough jobs for the millions of men and women who are looking for work. In fact, women have actually lost jobs and their unemployment rate has increased since the recovery officially started in June 2009. The Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act would continue urgently needed federal unemployment benefits for jobless workers and their families and provide assistance to states, employers, and the fragile economy. We urge Congress to pass it without delay." -Joan Entmacher, Vice President for Family Economic Security, National Women’s Law Center
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
“High and lingering unemployment in all communities, especially those represented by The Leadership Conference -24 percent among young adults, 16 percent for African Americans, and 11 percent for Hispanics - is straining families to the breaking point and decimating entire communities. That’s why it’s a moral imperative for Congress to take meaningful action to help the economy to recover and ensure that our nation’s working families survive this crisis. We urge members of Congress to extend unemployment insurance by passing this bill." -Nancy Zirkin, Executive Vice President for Policy, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Working America
“Working America has more than half a million unemployed and underemployed members -- including women, veterans, young people and working families --who will be devastated by a loss of unemployment insurance. These are working class families all over the country who desperately need a fighting chance in an economy that has seen too little job creation and too many tax breaks for corporate CEOs. This legislation is a necessary lifeline to keep ordinary working Americans afloat in an economy that is not working for them. We urge its passage immediately." -Karen Nussbaum, Executive Director, Working America
Economic Policy Institute
“The need to reauthorize the unemployment insurance programs could not be clearer. More than half a million jobs and $70 billion of GDP will be lost if the emergency benefits are cut off, and millions of families will suffer financially and emotionally. The best evidence also clearly shows that unemployment insurance encourages workers to search harder for new employment and ultimately has a positive effect on the unemployment rate. H.R.3346 should be passed without delay." -Ross Eisenbrey, Vice President, Economic Policy Institute
Building and Construction Trades Department
America’s Building Trades Unions strongly support an extension of the federal unemployment insurance program. In the construction industry today, the job crisis is particularly devastating. 1 out of every 4 construction workers are out of work. Some of our unions are reporting that upwards of 10% or more of their active members now have a house in foreclosure because of they have been unemployed for so long. Unemployment benefits are an essential life line for workers and their families during these trying times. But make no mistake about it, the men and women of America’s Building Trades Unions would prefer to be back on a jobsite earning a paycheck. -Mark H. Ayers, President, Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO
AFSCME
“The do-nothing Republicans in Congress continue to block anything that will create jobs and get our country back on track, and now they are shrugging their shoulders and holding up important legislation to help the jobless. People are hurting and ‘The Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2011’ will prevent more than 6 million jobless Americans from losing their unemployment benefits. This legislation will provide critical support to help middle and working class families pay their bills, put food on the table, and care for their families. Shame on any member of Congress that can’t put political games aside and do the right thing by voting to extend unemployment benefits." -Gerald W. McEntee, President, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
