In a letter to Speaker Hastert, Schakowsky added, “we should not recess for the year until we have provided an extension of benefits for workers who cannot find jobs in this stagnating economy.”  Below is the letter to Speaker Hastert:

The Honorable J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker
United States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C.  20515-0001

Dear Speaker Hastert:

 I am writing to urge you in the strongest possible terms to accept the Senate language on the federal Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) program in order to help tens of thousands of Illinois workers and their families who, without immediate House action, will lose assistance on December 29.  

 While the House passed a five-week extension on November 14, the Senate language would provide significantly more relief for laid-off workers in Illinois and throughout the country by extending full benefits for three months.  According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 41,700 working men and women in our state would be helped under the House-passed legislation, while 93,800 would receive assistance under the Senate bill.  In other words, by accepting the Senate language, we would more than double the number of working households who would be helped in Illinois.  Nationwide, the Senate proposal assists more than 1.2 million additional families by the end of March.  Inaction would result in 824,000 laid-off workers losing critical benefits on December 29.

We need to pass effective economic stimulus proposals in the 108th Congress to create good jobs and reduce unemployment but, in the meantime, we should not recess for the year until we have provided an extension of benefits for workers who cannot find jobs in this stagnating economy.  If you are unwilling to accept the Senate language, then you should keep the House in session until differences between the House and Senate proposals can be negotiated before the current TEUC runs out.  Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Jan Schakowsky
Member of Congress