Friday, October 03, 2008
House Passes Extension of Unemployment Benefits
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House of Representatives today voted in overwhelming bipartisan support of legislation to extend unemployment benefits to millions of workers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own and cannot find work. The bill, H.R. 6867, was introduced in September by House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles B. Rangel (D-NY) and Income Security and Family Support Subcommittee Chairman Jim McDermott (D-WA). Chairman McDermott’s subcommittee has jurisdiction over unemployment insurance and Chairman Rangel has made helping the American people weather the current economic downturn a top priority of the Ways and Means Committee. H.R. 6867 now moves to the U.S. Senate for consideration.
“Our economy has shed jobs every single month of this year,” said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles B. Rangel. “People are hurting with no end in sight. It is our responsibility as a Congress to stand up and help them weather these tough economic times. Extending unemployment benefits now will mean nearly a million families can keep food on their tables, roofs over their heads and some peace of mind while they continue searching for a job this fall. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to do the right thing and pass this bill now.” |
