For Immediate Release
June 19, 2008 |
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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Cullen Schwarz
Office: 202.225.4961
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House Approves Extension of Unemployment Benefits, Bush Says He Will Sign
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Vote comes as New Data Shows Michigan’s
Unemployment Rate Skyrocketed to 8.5% in May |
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(Washington D.C.)- The House of Representatives tonight approved an extension of unemployment insurance benefits to help the growing number of jobless workers nationwide and to stimulate the economy. The extension, passed 416-12 as an amendment to the War and Domestic Supplemental Funding package, will extend unemployment benefits for 13 weeks across the country. President Bush has agreed to approve the measure despite originally saying he would not support an extension of unemployment benefits. Congressman Sander Levin, a vocal proponent of extending unemployment benefits, spoke on the House floor today in favor of an extension.
Congressman Levin’s full Floor remarks, as prepared for delivery:
Today the voices of over one million people – who have not been heard enough on this floor – are finally being listened too -- with a much needed extension of unemployment benefits.
Some have written us the most persuasive letters about being unemployed for the first time, sending out hundreds of resumes, losing their health care and having difficulty making ends meet.
They have not marched on Washington; they have individually been in their communities looking for work. But if they did form a line it would extend from this Capitol to Denver, Colorado.
I asked the State of Michigan to provide me background information on the individuals who have exhausted their benefits. They come from the broadest range of occupations – sales, healthcare, production, management, financial operations -- to name just a few.
I would suggest that each Member do the same because once you look at the data you will have no doubt that we are doing the right thing today.
Today is a victory for more than a million of our citizens and an additional 2 ½ million estimated to exhaust their benefits. This is a vital first step and we will be ready to fight to sustain the program for people who continue to be unemployed in a difficult job market.
Today’s vote comes on the heels of the release of new data showing Michigan’s unemployment rate skyrocketed to 8.5% in May—the highest level since the recession of the early 1990s. With so many out of work, Michigan would particularly benefit from an unemployment extension. It is estimated that over 226,000 Michigan workers would be eligible for an extension, and nearly 4 million would be eligible nationally. The U.S. economy has shed nearly 325,000 jobs since the beginning of this year (Michigan has lost 94,000). In May, the U.S. experienced the largest monthly unemployment rate increase in over 20 years, from five to five-and-a-half percent.
President Bush previously threatened to veto an unemployment extension, saying that the nation’s 5.5% unemployment rate is too low to warrant an extension—even though he signed an extension in 2002 when the unemployment rate was only two-tenths of one percent higher. The number of long-term unemployed Americans (1.5 million) is now higher than it was when President Bush signed the 2002 extension (1.3 million). The percent of people exhausting regular benefits (37%) is higher than at the beginning of any of the last five recessions, including the 2001-02 recession.
Previously, the House and Senate passed legislation to extend unemployment benefits 13 weeks nationwide and 13 additional weeks in high unemployment states. In order to win the approval of the president, the additional assistance to states in greatest need was dropped, but Rep. Levin said he would continue to fight for struggling workers.
“We will fight for a further extension for people who continue to be unemployed in a difficult job market,” said Rep. Levin.
Experts widely agree that an extension of unemployment benefits is one of the most effective and fast acting forms of economic stimulus, as benefits are spent quickly by unemployed workers and circulated back into the economy. It is estimated that every $1 spent on unemployment benefits generates $1.64 in new economic activity.
Federal unemployment trust funds, which have more than enough reserves to cover the cost, would finance the benefit extension.
The Senate is expected to consider the War and Domestic Supplemental Funding package, including the unemployment extension, next week. Once signed by the president, workers that have exhausted their benefits during or after November of 2006 can begin receiving extended benefits within several weeks. Workers that exhaust benefits through March of 2009 will also be eligible for an extension.
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