House Votes to Extend Unemployment Benefits for Millions

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House of Representatives today voted to extend immediate economic relief to millions of Americans who are out of work through no fault of their own. The House approved legislation, H.R. 5749, the Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation Act, which would provide an immediate extension of unemployment benefits nationwide, with additional benefits available to states with high unemployment.

H.R. 5749 was introduced by Ways and Means Income Security and Family Support Subcommittee Chairman Jim McDermott (D-WA) and passed by the Ways and Means Committee in April. The legislation fell three Republican votes short of passage in the House yesterday, but today's passage advances the legislation to the U.S. Senate.

"Here we are, once again fighting for the dignity of millions of Americans who have worked hard throughout their lives and expect Congress to respond when they are in need," said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles B. Rangel (D-NY). "I want America to know – that, as long as good people want to work, as long as they don't have money to pay their bills and their cost of living is rising, that we on our side will continue to fight no matter what. Republicans can pull out all the tricks in the book and President Bush can veto the bill, but the American people should know that we will not give up until we have provided them the relief they deserve. I hope that, at the end of the day, members will be guided by their conscience, not by their political party."

"The American people should have only one question on their minds today : How bad does it have to get before the President and Republican leadership decide to join Democrats in extending a helping hand by extending unemployment benefits?" said Income Security and Family Support Subcommittee Chairman Jim McDermott (D-WA). "This bill is called the Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 2008 because it is an emergency. And the time to act is right now."

The Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation Act would:

• Immediately provide up to 13 weeks of extended unemployment benefits in every State.

• Provide an additional 13 weeks (for a total of 26) in States with high unemployment (six percent or higher).

• Be financed by the federal unemployment trust funds, which now have more than enough reserves to cover the cost.

Please click here to view Background information on H.R. 5749 and the importance of extending unemployment benefits.

###