By Matthew Beck or Lauren Bloomberg, 202-225-8933

WASHINGTON DC – Ways and Means Committee Chairman Sander M. Levin (D-MI) issued the following statement today after the Senate voted to overcome the GOP filibuster and move to a vote on legislation that would extend Federal unemployment insurance (UI) programs.  The House of Representatives sent similar legislation to the Senate on May 28, 2010 and again on July 1, 2010 in an attempt to overcome obstruction by Senate Republicans that left millions of Americans without their unemployment benefits.  Following Senate passage, the House will take up the legislation as early as tomorrow.

“I am relieved to see that the Senate is finally acting in the best interest of millions of unemployed workers who have been thrown out of their job by this bad economy and are still looking for work. When the lives of millions of Americans and their families are in jeopardy it isn’t a Republican emergency or a Democratic emergency, it is an American emergency. Republicans in Congress have been so focused on scoring political points that they seem to have forgotten this important principle.

“The economic downturn left millions out of work and, although there are positive signs of economic growth, there are still five workers for every available job.  These Americans are ready to work and we must not turn our backs on them.  This is why the Committee will continue developing proposals to spur job creation, including new, green jobs to manufacture renewable energy technologies.  Today’s action in the Senate is necessary, but it is not sufficient, it must also continue efforts to overcome Republican filibusters on important job-creating provisions that would help small businesses, prevent the outsourcing of American jobs and extend successful programs such as Build America Bonds and the research and development tax credit.”

Click here for additional information on unemployment insurance.

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