Washington, DC - Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) gave the following statement today following passage of H.R. 3357, a bill to restore funds to the Highway Trust Fund, the Federal Unemployment Account, the Federal Housing Administration and Ginnie Mae. As a part of the bill, additional funds will be made available to the Unemployment Trust Fund to help state particularly hard hit by the current recession.  The bill passed 363-68:

“This bill could not come at a more critical time for the State of Michigan and for our country.  The unemployment rate in Michigan is currently 15.2 percent, the highest of any state.  The high unemployment in my state has taken a serious toll on the Michigan’s unemployment trust fund, and as a result this fund has been insolvent for the past two years and has been borrowing money from the federal Unemployment Trust Fund.  Seventeen other states have also been borrowing from the Unemployment Trust Fund and its reserves are expected to be depleted. 

“Because of the additional funds going to the Unemployment Trust Fund, H.R. 3357 will make it possible for states struggling with high unemployment to continue getting loans.  If this bill is not enacted, 4.6 million people nationwide will not receive unemployment benefits in August and September.  Such a situation would be catastrophic.  Americans who are already hurting from job loss would suddenly find themselves in a far worse situation.  Families would have even more trouble keeping food on the table, paying medical bills, making mortgage payments, and providing education for their children.  Congress must act on this bill before August recess and I hope that when we return in September we can begin work on crafting a long-term solution to the problem later this year.” 

Congressman Dingell also announced today he is joining Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA07) this week in introducing the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act, a bill that would extend certain unemployment benefit programs through 2010 and provide for thirteen weeks of additional emergency unemployment compensation for states with an unemployment level above 9.5 percent.  The programs extended are the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program which provides up to 33 weeks of extended benefits; the Extended Benefits program, which can provide up to 20 weeks of extended benefits; and the Federal Additional Compensation, which increases unemployment benefits by $25 per week.  Without this legislation, these programs would begin to phase out at the end of 2009.

“I am pleased to be able to join Congressman McDermott in taking this important step to help the tremendous number of workers who are unemployed.  We know that nearly 100,000 workers in Michigan will exhaust their unemployment benefits by the end of the year.  Currently, their joblessness benefits, which help to cushion the blow of unemployment, are a maximum of $387 per week.  Michigan’s displaced workers are relying on these benefits to search for new employment, to obtain training in a new career field and to provide for their families.  However, with future job prospects looking bleak for many Michiganders, it is important to ensure that these benefits are continued and those who need help the most will be able to continue to receiving it.  I am proud to co-sponsor this legislation to help out Michigan and other hard hit states to get through the worst part of the recession.”