Reps. Peters and Levin Meet with Unemployed Workers and Call for Extension of Unemployment Insurance
Press Release
Today, U.S. Representatives Gary Peters and Sander Levin hosted a "Lunch and Listen" event with local workers affected by the recent expiration of unemployment insurance. Peters and Levin have been urging the Republican-led House of Representatives to do the right thing for Michigan workers and their families and extend unemployment insurance.
Peters said, "Unemployment insurance benefits need to be extended without delay. Too many folks here in the metro area and across Michigan are still unemployed, and Washington has made things more uncertain for families who are already carrying enough of a burden looking for work."
"The harmful impact of failing to renew emergency unemployment insurance continues to spread across the nation -- with more than 56,000 people in Michigan having now lost this vital lifeline while they look for work," said Rep. Levin. "I urge Republicans to join with Democrats to extend this vital program before even more Americans are cut off."
The federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation program expired Dec. 28, 2013, and unemployment benefits have since been cut off for over 56,000 Michiganders and approximately 1.6 million nationally. Peters and Levin have been working to extend these benefits for months. Last week Rep. Peters sent a letter to Speaker John Boehner, signed by Rep. Levin and 113 other Members, urging the Speaker to cancel recess and keep Congress in session until unemployment insurance is extended.
"When the Republican leadership decided to recess instead of extending unemployment insurance last week, I knew Michiganders needed to have their voices heard," Peters said. "Folks are struggling to find work in a still recovering economy and unemployment insurance helps put food on the tables and keeps the heat on in their homes. Extending unemployment insurance has a proven economic return and is the right thing to do for Michigan families and the economy."
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