“Be proud to say that we are all Americans." – Lamar Alexander
Alexander Votes to Extend Unemployment Benefits for Tennesseans
November 20th, 2008 - WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement regarding his vote in favor of unemployment benefits for Tennesseans:
“Right now, Tennessee is suffering from the highest unemployment rate we’ve had since 1987,” Alexander said. “This measure could provide up to thirteen additional weeks of unemployment benefits to workers in Tennessee who have lost their jobs for reasons outside of their control, giving them more time to find new jobs during this tough economic time.”
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Tennessee’s unemployment rate is currently at 7.2 percent, which (along with Ohio) is the 7th highest in the country.
The Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2008 (H.R. 6867) passed the Senate by a vote of 89-6. It passed the House of Representatives last month and now goes to the president for his signature.