Rep. McDermott Emergency UI Legislation Signed into Law by the President

Statement

Rep. McDermott Emergency UI Legislation Signed into Law by the President

Unemployed Americans who are struggling to regain employment in the current economic downturn will receive an additional 13 weeks of unemployment insurance benefits because of legislation by Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA) that was included in H.R. 2642, the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2008, and signed into law today by the President.

"We are providing a lifeline today for unemployed Americans to help them survive during these difficult economic times," McDermott said. He noted that the bill would provide assistance to about a million Americans who have already exhausted their regular UI benefits and to almost another three million exhausting the normal 26 weeks of benefits in the coming months.

"Gasoline and food prices are sky high, and the economy continues to struggle to produce new jobs, so Americans need and deserve a helping hand to make it through a time like this," McDermott said.

Rep. McDermott is the chairman of the House Ways and Means Income Security and Family Support Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over unemployment insurance. Months ago he introduced bipartisan legislation with Republican Rep. Phil English to address the needs of unemployed Americans during the slump in the economy.

In the state of Washington, an estimated 46,000 people will benefit from this extension between now and through March of next year when Congress would have to extend it again.

McDermott's original legislation passed overwhelmingly in the House, but the Senate failed to act on it until a modified version was included in the Supplemental Appropriations Act. This new version added a work requirement to qualify for benefits over what is already in place, and it stripped the bill of a provision adding a second 13 weeks of extended benefits for workers in states with especially high unemployment.

"I wanted to direct an additional 13 weeks of help to those states hardest hit with unemployment above six percent, but the President and Senate Republicans would not agree. We got as much as we could for now, but we will continue to closely monitor the economic data. I'm prepared to act again if things don't improve."

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