Peters Calls on House to Prioritize Economy & Bring Unemployment Insurance Extension Up for a Vote

Press Release

Today, after the U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan deal to extend unemployment insurance, which expired in December, U.S. Representative Gary Peters urged the U.S. House of Representatives to follow suit. His statement follows:

"Michigan's economy is still recovering and folks are still struggling to find work. For months, families have been without the unemployment insurance they depend on to keep the lights on and put food on the table. Extending unemployment insurance has a proven economic return and will help the thousands of Michiganders who are looking for work have the certainty they need to make ends meet and take the next step to find employment. Today, the Senate came together in a bipartisan way to revive these benefits, a move that will strengthen our economy. The House of Representatives should bring this compromise, which is fully paid for, to the House Floor for a vote immediately."

Peters has been leading the fight to extend unemployment insurance since the benefits expired in December 2013. In early January of this year he called on Speaker Boehner to cancel recess until benefits were extended, an effort joined by 113 of his colleagues. Reps. Peters and Sandy Levin also hosted a "Lunch and Listen" event with local workers affected by the expiration of unemployment insurance in late January and discussed the best path forward on this critical issue.

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