Congressman Garamendi and House Democrats Vote to Extend Benefits for People Out of Work, House Republicans Vote to Send Unemployed into Destitution and Desperation

Press Release

Congressman John Garamendi (D-Walnut Creek, CA) today joined other House Democrats in voting for H.R. 5618, Restoration of Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act. This emergency legislation will extend unemployment benefits to millions of Americans out of work through no fault of their own. The bill passed with a 270-153 vote, with only 29 Republicans siding with Americans struggling to find work.

"House Republicans with their no vote today want to send people out of work through no fault of their own into destitution and desperation," Congressman Garamendi said. "Nearly two million American families rely on unemployment assistance to pay for essential services while they look for work. I stand with these families with my vote today."

The benefits extension still needs to clear the Senate where Senate Republicans have blocked its passage.

Unemployment benefits inject demand into the economy. Every dollar in unemployment benefits creates at least $1.63 in economic activity, according to chief economist Mark Zandi of Moodys.com. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has found that extending unemployment benefits is one of the most cost-effective and fast-acting ways to grow the economy. Getting people back to work and our economy going is the first crucial step to getting our deficit under control.

"303,000 Californians will lose their benefits on July 3 because the Senate failed to act. Our economy and 303,000 Californians cannot afford further delay," Garamendi added.

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