DeLauro Votes To Help Struggling American Families

Statement

Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) released the following statement today praising the passage legislation that will extend unemployment and health insurance benefits to Americans workers who have lost their jobs.

The bill, which was delayed by Republicans in the Senate for over three weeks and prevented at least 200,000 out-of-work Americans from receiving the help they need, will provide for an extension of unemployment and COBRA health insurance benefits through May 31, 2010. With the unemployment rate in Connecticut at 9.2%, this legislation is critical to ensuring that those who have lost their jobs will be able to pay their bills and access medical care should they become sick.

The bill also includes a reauthorization of National Floor Insurance Program, which is essential to Connecticut residents who were impacted by the recent floods. Without this program, homeowners and businesses would not have been able to receive the full amount of disaster assistance they are entitled to.

Congresswoman DeLauro said, "I am very pleased to have voted for this vital legislation, which provides a safety net for the many working and middle class Americans who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. Though not a permanent solution, this extension is an important one that in the short term will prevent workers from slipping into poverty and help the economy continue to rebound. This bill is about providing emergency assistance to those who have been hit the hardest by the recession, and it was simply the right thing to do."

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