Bill Provides Up to 13 Weeks of Extended Unemployment Benefits for Over 220,000 Californians

Washington, DC – Last night, Congressman Joe Baca (D-Rialto) joined a majority in the House of Representatives in support of legislation extending unemployment benefits by up to 13 weeks for those workers hit hardest by the recession.  H.R. 3548, the Unemployment Compensation Act of 2009, provides immediate assistance, extending relief to the estimated 314,000 workers who will exhaust their unemployment benefits by the end of September, and one million more whose benefits would run out by the end of the year. The legislation, which will benefit 223,000 Californians struggling to find work, passed the House with a 333 – 81 vote.

“Extending unemployment benefits provides immediate relief to struggling families, and is an important step to get our economy moving in the right direction,” said Rep. Baca.  “This legislation is especially necessary in the Inland Empire, with the unemployment rates in San Bernardino and Riverside County at 14.5%, well above the national average.  And Inland families receiving these federal benefits will be able to invest money back into our local economies – paying for necessities such as food, transportation, and shelter.”

The extension will provide immediate, effective stimulus to the local economy. The Congressional Budget Office has cited unemployment benefits as one of the most cost-effective forms of economic stimulus, and every dollar spent on unemployment benefits generates $1.63 in new demand, according to Moody’s chief economist Mark Zandi. The extension is fully paid for, and strengthens reporting requirements to reduce unemployment insurance overpayments.

The legislation will help families in at least twenty-seven states with the highest unemployment rates, where it is most difficult for workers to find employment. Workers in these states who have exhausted or will soon exhaust their benefits will be eligible for an additional thirteen weeks of insurance, bringing the total to forty-six weeks.

“In these difficult times, it is critical Congress does all it can to get our economy back on track and help those Americans struggling to get by,” concluded Rep. Baca.  “I am proud to support this responsible legislation, which provides assistance to those Americans who need it most and helps to promote spending and economic growth in our Inland communities.”