Rep. Schneider Applauds Bipartisan Deal on Unemployment Insurance in Senate, Continues Calling for Vote in House

Press Release

U.S. Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10), who filed a measure yesterday to force a vote in the House on extending unemployment insurance, released the following statement in response to news that the Senate reached a bipartisan compromise to extend unemployment insurance for five months.

"The Senate's bipartisan deal to renew unemployment insurance is a strong step forward for the 2 million Americans who lost their unemployment insurance," Schneider said. "Now it's the House's turn to act, and I'll continue fighting to force a vote because while I respect my colleagues right to disagree, failing to hold a vote is unacceptable."

Schneider is leading the effort in the House to move forward on extending unemployment insurance, filing a discharge petition yesterday that would force a vote if a majority of members signed. More than 175 members have signed the petition since it opened yesterday.

Schneider has been active in calling for an immediate vote on unemployment insurance. Rep. Schneider and 48 of his freshman colleagues sent a letter to Speaker Boehner demanding that he call an immediate vote to extend unemployment insurance. In January, he hosted a roundtable discussion to talk with constituents who recently lost their unemployment insurance.

On Dec. 28th, critical unemployment insurance lapsed for 1.3 million Americans, including more than 80,000 people in Illinois. The number of people who have lost unemployment insurance has now risen to 2 million people, with an average of 72,000 people losing their insurance each week.

Source