October 6, 2008

Congressman Gregory Meeks Supports the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act

(WASHINGTON, DC)–Today, Congressman Gregory Meeks voted for H.R. 6867, the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act, which will provide an additional seven weeks of extended unemployment benefits for workers who have used up all of their unemployment benefits.

This bill intends to help provide immediate relief to millions of unemployed workers to help them in a time of economic distress where gas and food prices are continuously increasing. Each month more and more Americans find themselves jobless. As of today 159,000 Americans have lost their jobs in September alone, which makes this the worst job loss in five years. This bill is very pertinent because if Congress doesn’t take action soon it is projected that during the month of October alone 800,000 workers will exhaust their current extended unemployment benefits.

With this new bill workers can receive an additional 13 weeks of benefits, which amounts to a total of 33 weeks. By extending these benefits the economy can become quickly stimulated in a very fast and cost-effective way. According to the Congressional Budget Office every $1 spent on unemployment benefits generates $1.64 in new economic demand.

“With the continuing rise of gas, food and health care costs coupled with the loss of homes and jobs the economy is going through a very critical time. The proposed outcomes of this bill will help to strengthen our economy during a very severe financial crisis. I believe that extending the benefits for workers who have exhausted their unemployment benefits will not only help those millions of citizens who are unemployed be able to survive, but help to stabilize the economy as well. I am confident that this bill will benefit not just those citizens who are unemployed, but all those who will reap the benefits of a boosted economy”, said Meeks.   

Now serving in his sixth full-term, Meeks was elected to the House on February 3, 1998. Representing New York's Sixth Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, Meeks' district covers all towns of Southeast Queens, Far Rockaway and Howard Beach. He is a member of the House Committee on Financial Services and the Committee on Foreign Affairs.  Meeks is a Member of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), New Democrats Caucus and the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC).  He serves as the Co-chair of the Malaysia Caucus, Services Caucus, Dialogue Caucus and the Middle East Economic Partnership Caucus. 

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