In November, Congress approved and President Bush signed into law the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2008, a bipartisan bill that extends unemployment benefits for the growing number of Americans looking for work.  This legislation provides an additional seven weeks of unemployment benefits for workers who have exhausted regular unemployment compensation.  Workers in states with unemployment rates above 6 percent, including Missouri, are eligible for an additional 13 weeks of benefits.

I supported the Unemployment Compensation Act when it came before the House for a vote.  Extending unemployment benefits is one of the most cost-effective ways to stimulate the economy and to ensure those who have lost work have the resources they need to take care of their families.  However, this federally funded program is scheduled to phase out at the end of March 2009.  Given the economic crisis we face today, simply watching this extension end is not an option.

It is critical for Congress and President Obama to come together to enact a bold, bipartisan plan that would extend the Unemployment Compensation Act of 2008 and would provide relief to American workers as they look for jobs.  Congress and the President also have a responsibility to develop a proposal that would protect and create jobs, particularly in rural America.

Toward that end, House leadership recently released details on the economic recovery proposal expected to come before Congress for a vote in the coming weeks.  The bill, known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan, as it is currently written, would extend the Unemployment Compensation Act and would extend unemployment benefit coverage to workers who are currently ineligible for unemployment benefits.  The plan, if approved by Congress and signed into law by President Obama, is expected to create or save millions of jobs in the next two years, putting thousands of people to work by building and repairing roads, bridges, and schools and by investing in clean energy.  Various committees in the House must first approve the legislation before it is considered in the House for a vote.

During these challenging times, Congress and President Obama must continue working to implement economic policies that will strengthen the middle class and will create jobs.  I am optimistic that Congress can and will move forward with a bold plan that will put our economy back on track and restore the American Dream.

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