Extension of Critical Unemployment and Health Benefits Set to Become Law
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House of Representatives today approved H.R. 4851 the Continuing Extension Act of 2010 by a vote of 289-112. The legislation extends critical unemployment and health care benefits, ensures that Medicare beneficiaries can continue seeing their doctors and extends other programs which expired. H.R. 4851 will now be sent to President Obama for his signature into law.
"As we speak, there are twice the number of long-term unemployed compared to any other time on record before this recession," said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Sander M. Levin (D-MI). "Extending unemployment benefits has traditionally been a strong bipartisan effort, yet today some Republicans are claiming that their opposition is rooted in concern about the deficit. They seem to have discovered fiscal responsibility when it comes time to extend unemployment benefits but not when it came to paying for tax cuts for the rich and the Iraq war. These benefits are too important to American families to just say ‘no.'
"Holding hundreds of thousands of unemployed Americans hostage to score political points is reprehensible. I am glad we overcame this political gamesmanship to send this bill to President Obama for his signature."
Summary of the Continuing Extension Act of 2010
Unemployment Insurance: Extends unemployment benefits retroactively, including the increased payouts and longer duration of benefits from the Recovery Act, through June 2, 2010.
Help with Health Insurance for Unemployed Workers (COBRA): Extends eligibility for the COBRA health insurance 65% subsidy for people who have lost their jobs through May 31, 2010 and provides transition relief for individuals who lost their jobs between March 31, 2010 and the date of enactment.
Medicare Physician Payments: Extends current Medicare payment rates for physicians (preventing a 21% payment reduction) through May 31, 2010.
Poverty Guidelines: Extends current provision maintaining 2009 poverty guidelines through May 31, 2010 (to prevent a lowering of the poverty line due to deflation in 2009).
Flood Insurance: Extends the National Flood Insurance Program authorization through May 31, 2010.
Satellite Television: Extends the compulsory copyright license used by satellite television providers through May 31, 2010.
Small Business Loans: Extends two temporary improvements to the Small Business Administration's loan guarantee program, raising the percentage of loan amounts that the SBA can guarantee and allowing SBA to waive or reduce loan fees through May 31, 2010.
Compensation for Furloughed Employees: Provides compensation for federal employees furloughed during March 1st and 2nd as the result of the lapse in expenditure authority from the Highway Trust Fund.
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