House Passes Extension of Unemployment Benefits to Help Workers Weather Economic Downturn

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) today praised the House passage of a bill that will provide immediate help to families struggling with unemployment. The Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation Act (H.R. 5749) would provide up to 13 weeks of additional unemployment benefits to workers in every state who have lost their jobs as a result of the recent economic downturn.

“The economic slow-down has taken a real toll on hard-working men and women in western Wisconsin and across the country,” Rep. Kind said. “Extending unemployment benefits will provide a temporary helping hand for those people trying to get back on their feet while dealing with the rising cost of just about everything.”

Americans across the country are facing rising costs of living—and we have just seen the largest monthly increase in unemployment in 20 years. For the fifth straight month, the economy lost jobs and unemployment rose from 5.0 percent in April to 5.5 percent in May.

The legislation will benefit 3.8 million unemployed Americans – providing up to 13 weeks of extended unemployment benefits in every state to workers who have exhausted the 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits. The legislation is fully paid for through the federal unemployment trust funds, which have more than enough reserves to finance the extended benefits.

“Wisconsin has been weathering a lot of storms lately, and this one too will pass – but in the meantime we must do more to strengthen our economy and help those families who are struggling as a result of eight years of President Bush’s failed economic policies,” Rep. Kind said. “Extending unemployment benefits is one of the quickest and most cost effective ways to do that.”

The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration. President Bush has threatened to veto the measure.