WASHINGTON - Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin today severely criticized House Republican leaders for refusing to act on a bipartisan bill that would have extended unemployment benefits through March. More than 850,000 Americans are scheduled to lose their unemployment benefits three days after Christmas -- Dec. 28. Earlier this week, the Senate passed the 13-week unemployment insurance extension.

"This is the first economic downturn in which the House has refused to extend unemployment insurance benefits for Americans who have been impacted. The White House and Republicans in the Senate supported extending these benefits until March, but House Republican leaders have refused to do so," said Rep. Cardin. "It's an outrage."

The Congressman, who is the leading Democrat on the Human Resources Subcommittee, also pointed out that after Dec. 28, an additional 90,000 workers per week will lose their benefits. In Maryland, 8,000 people will lose their unemployment insurance on Dec. 28.

Rep. Cardin also stressed that the federal Unemployment Insurance Trust fund -- which contains $24 billion -- was created for the purpose of helping those during an economic downturn.

"In addition to helping workers who need it, unemployment insurance provides a targeted economic stimulus for the economy by immediately increasing consumer spending in the hardest-hit areas. Economists agree that boosting consumer spending quickly is the most effective way to bring about an economic recovery."