Larsen: Extension of Unemployment Benefits an Important Step Forward, More Action Needed to Create Jobs, Help Economy Recover
For Immediate Release
Contact: Amanda Mahnke
(202) 225-2605
November 21, 2008
Washington, D.C. — Legislation to provide an additional 7 weeks of unemployment benefits to every state including Washington was signed into law on Thursday. The bill (H.R. 6867), which first passed by the House of Representatives in October with strong bipartisan support, cleared the Senate Thursday afternoon. U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement:
“Extending unemployment insurance is an important step that will help workers in my district and families across the country hit hard by the economic downturn. The latest national unemployment numbers show that more Americans are filing for unemployment now than at any point in the past 16 years. In Washington state, our unemployment rate rose to 6.3 percent in October, up half a percentage point from September.
“The legislation signed into law on Thursday will help unemployed Americans pay their bills, stay in their homes and keep food on the table as they look for work.
“I congratulate Rep. Jim McDermott (WA-07), Chairman of the Security and Family Support Subcommittee, for his leadership in getting this important legislation passed and signed into law.
“But more must be done, and done soon. The next step to heal our ailing economy is an economic recovery and jobs creation package to invest in America and Americans and lay the groundwork for economic recovery.
“In September, the House of Representatives passed an economic recovery and job creation package to invest in highways, roads, bridges and other infrastructure. This bill would create approximately 11,000 jobs in Washington state and help approximately 566,000 people in Washington state struggling with hunger and food insecurity put food on the table.
“I will keep pushing until an economic recovery and jobs creation package is signed into law.”
The unemployment insurance legislation signed into law on Thursday provides an additional 13-week extension for states where the unemployment rate has averaged 6.5 percent or more during the past three months. This does not include Washington state.
