The Virtual Office of Congresswoman Jane Harman - News - HARMAN HAILS PASSAGE OF UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE EXTENSION Lawmaker says "Without increasing the deficit, we've helped extend a critical lifeline."


HARMAN HAILS PASSAGE OF UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE EXTENSION Lawmaker says “Without increasing the deficit, we’ve helped extend a critical lifeline.”	September 22, 2009
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Jane Harman (D-Venice) joined with 330 of her House colleagues in passing a crucial extension of unemployment benefits. The bill, which is fully paid for, will prevent 300,000 Americans from exhausting their benefits by the end of September. “In the current economic environment, unemployment insurance gives families a vital safety net,” said Harman. “Without increasing the deficit, we’ve helped extend a critical lifeline.” While some parts of the U.S. economy have shown improvement, deep problems remain. Los Angeles County, which encompasses all of the 36th Congressional District, has an unemployment rate of 12.6 percent, up from 9.4 percent a year ago. As of earlier this year, 526 homes in the 36th District had been foreclosed, and an additional 1,000 homes were in danger. For some of those homeowners, unemployment insurance may mean the difference between keeping a home or losing it. The unemployment extension avoids adding to the deficit by extending the three-decades-old Federal Unemployment Tax, paid by employers, by one year; and improving reporting on new hires to avoid overpayments. “The signs of an economic recovery are hopeful,” said Harman, “but it will be some time before the job market recovers. Congress should take reasonable measures like this one to help Americans weather the storm.” ###
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HARMAN HAILS PASSAGE OF UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE EXTENSION

Lawmaker says “Without increasing the deficit, we’ve helped extend a critical lifeline.”