Majority Whip Clyburn | MajorityWhip.gov

House Republicans Block Critical Unemployment Assistance

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn today released the following statement after House Republicans blocked H.R. 5749, the Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 2008.

“With Americans suffering from alarmingly high rates of unemployment, the New Direction Congress quickly responded with legislation that will extend unemployment benefits to those individuals and families struggling to find work and make ends meet during these tough economic times.  But House Republicans blocked passage of the legislation, standing in front of critical relief for the American people.

“The bill would have provided up to 13 weeks of extended unemployment benefits to workers who have exhausted their regular unemployment compensation.  In States with higher levels of unemployment, an additional 13 weeks would have been available.  It is estimated that this bill could provide much needed relief to over 3.8 million hardworking Americans.

“Unemployment in May reached 5.5 percent, up from 5 percent in April, marking the largest one-month spike in 22 years.  And with Americans paying record high prices for gas and groceries, it is of the utmost necessity that we continue to provide immediate and viable assistance to those out of work Americans aggressively seeking employment.  We will revisit this legislation tomorrow to provide assistance to American families and the American economy.”