DeLauro Acts to Extend Unemployment Benefits for Americans Struggling to Find Work

Statement

DeLauro Acts to Extend Unemployment Benefits for Americans Struggling to Find Work

Amid news that the economy lost another 159,000 jobs in September, Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3) spoke on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives in support of extending unemployment insurance The legislation, the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act (H.R. 6867), provides an additional seven weeks of extended unemployment benefits for workers who have exhausted their unemployment benefits (providing 20 total weeks of extended benefits when combined with the 13 weeks provided earlier this year). Support for the bill was nearly unanimous (368-28) when the House voted on it.

According to economists, extending these benefits is one of the most cost-effective and fast-acting ways to stimulate the economy and unless Congress acts, nearly 800,000 workers are projected to exhaust their current extended benefits in October.

Below is the text of DeLauro's floor statement.

"Madame Speaker, we all know our economy is rapidly deteriorating and we have a responsibility to act.

"Today, we passed an economic stabilization bill that we worked to benefit everyone - allowing individuals and businesses across the country critical access to the credit that they need. The package also included tax provisions to bring further relief to the middle class, protecting hardworking Americans from the encroaching Alternative Minimum Tax, expand the Child Tax Credit, create jobs through renewable energy and research and development tax credits.

"Yet, we must do more to help those most in need. So far this year, 760,000 jobs have disappeared. The Labor Department reported today that the economy shed 159,000 jobs in September - the ninth straight month of job losses and the most in more than five years. The unemployment rate is now at 6.1%, the highest level in five years. This August, Connecticut unemployment reached 6.5% - the highest since 1993 and wages remain stagnant.

"The legislation we consider today would provide 7 additional weeks of extended benefits for workers in every state, extend the eligibility to 20 weeks, provides another 13 weeks for workers in states with the unemployment rate of 6% or higher. With 800,000 workers currently set to exhaust their extended benefits in October, this could not be more urgent.

"In the long-run we need to provide real stimulus to help the middle class - create jobs by investing in infrastructure and renewable energy - provide the middle class with much needed tax relief.

"Extending unemployment insurance is one of the best options to stimulate the economy. It is good economics and it is basic human decency."

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