FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 21, 2008
Contact:  Joy Fox
(401) 732-9400 
 
R.I. Has Nation's Highest Unemployment Rate 

 

 

(Warwick, R.I.) - Congressman Jim Langevin today sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reiterating his strong support for a new stimulus measure to extend unemployment benefits and spur job creation. Rhode Island’s jobless rate, currently the highest in the nation, continues to grow.

“Communities across the state are seeing a marked increase in families seeking help to keep their homes, pay their bills, and put food on the table,” wrote Langevin.  “This economic situation has taken a toll on our state’s social service centers, food pantries and homeless shelters, and it is clear that the worst is yet to come.  For these reasons, I fully support a stimulus package that includes extension of unemployment benefits, infrastructure projects that will create jobs, funding for emergency food assistance, and provisions that further help homeowners.”
 
Langevin also thanked Pelosi for her commitment to extending unemployment benefits earlier this month, but expressed disappointment that the Senate failed to consider the House-passed Unemployment Compensation Extension Act. Such action is urgently needed in Rhode Island, where unemployment has just reached a staggering 8.8 percent -- the highest it has been since 1992 and the highest rate in the country. 

The Unemployment Compensation Extension Act (H.R. 6867) would have provided an additional seven weeks of extended unemployment benefits for workers across the country who have exhausted regular unemployment compensation.

In Rhode Island and other states with unemployment rates above 6 percent, workers would have received an additional 13 weeks of benefits on top of that.  Earlier this year, Langevin voted to help 3.5 million Americans looking for jobs -- providing up to 13 weeks of extended unemployment benefits in every state to workers exhausting the 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits.

With support growing for a second economic stimulus measure, Langevin is hopeful that Congress can come together before the end of the year to provide meaningful assistance to struggling families.

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