BERKLEY CALLS FOR SWIFT ACTION BY WHITE HOUSE ON EXTENSION OF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

(November 20, 2008 -- Washington, D.C.) Following Senate approval earlier today, Congresswoman Shelley Berkley is calling on President Bush to swiftly extend unemployment benefits for Nevadans who are out of work. “I urge President Bush to move right away on signing this vital package that will extend assistance for Americans who are out of work and still in search of jobs,” said Berkley. “With unemployment in Nevada at record levels, and at a 16-year high nationwide, there is no question we need to continue providing these benefits to those who have qualified. These checks are a lifeline to families who would otherwise have no means to buy food or pay the rent and these are dollars that go right back into the community.”Economists calculate that every dollar distributed in unemployment benefits yields approximately $1.64 in economic impact as the money ripples through the economy and helps to sustain other jobs. The legislation would benefit 3.8 million unemployed Americans -- providing up to 13 weeks of extended unemployment benefits in every state to workers who exhaust the 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits.“Given the bipartisan support for this package and the overwhelming need for this assistance, I am hopeful that President Bush will not delay the enactment of the extension we have now sent to his desk,” said Berkley. Berkley praised the Senate for agreeing to legislation passed by the House (H.R. 6867) to extend unemployment insurance benefits. The legislation is fully paid for with monies saved in the federal unemployment trust funds.Specifically, the legislation would provide an additional 7 weeks of extended unemployment benefits in every State, plus another 13 weeks in states such as Nevada where the unemployment rate has averaged six percent or higher over the most recent three months. The benefits provided by the legislation would be in addition to the 13 weeks of federally-funded extended unemployment benefits provided by Congress in June.As passed by Congress, H.R. 6867 would:

• Amend the current Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program to provide another seven weeks of extended unemployment benefits in every State (bringing the total amount of potential extended benefits to 20 weeks).
• Provide an additional 13 weeks in high unemployment States defined as having a seasonally-adjusted, three-month average total unemployment rate of 6 percent (providing a total of up to 33 weeks of extended benefits).

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