Today, Rep. Betty Sutton (D-Ohio) released the following statement after voting to extend unemployment insurance through November 30, 2010 for 141,900 Ohioans who would have exhausted their benefits by July 31 and to restore retroactively the unemployment insurance benefits for the 112,700 Ohioans who had lost them as of July 17. The House originally passed H.R. 4213, the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act, on May 28, 2010, but Senate Republicans held up the much-needed legislation until this week.
"It's outrageous that this help has been held up in the Senate for so long, but it is good that this measure to help those suffering unemployment during this recession has finally passed. Without the passage of this bill, tens of thousands of Ohioans would have been without the necessary assistance to get through these tough times. These are hardworking Ohioans who lost their jobs through no fault of their own who need this compensation as a bridge while they continue to look for work."
"As we continue to put into place the foundation for a sustainable economy of the future with jobs that cannot be shipped overseas, I will continue to work hard to put Americans back to work. However, until hard-working Ohioans - and Americans - can start reaping the rewards of this new economy that we are building, we have to be there for them and extend their unemployment insurance."