Kuhl Votes to Protect the American Worker
Press Release
Kuhl Votes To Protect the American Worker
U.S. Representative John R. "Randy" Kuhl, Jr. (R-Hammondsport) today voted to provide an immediate extension of unemployment benefits nationwide. H.R. 5749, the Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation Act would provide up to 13 weeks of extended unemployment benefits in every state.
"When a corporation closes a branch or office in a city, the victims are not the shareholders but the hard-working American who lost their job through no fault of their own. And when these people cannot find work immediately they are forced into financial hardship with no income or benefits," said Rep. Kuhl. "This legislation will provide additional benefits so those workers have the time to find a new job without sacrificing their financial security entirely."
In addition to providing up to an additional 13 weeks of extended unemployment benefits in every state, the Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation Act would provide up to an additional 13 weeks in States with unemployment rate higher than 6%. The current Federal-State Unemployment Compensation program provides up to 26 weeks of benefits to eligible workers who those their job through no fault of their own. The extended benefits would be in effect through June 2009 and all benefits would be paid out of federal unemployment trust funds.
Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects that roughly 3.5 million jobless workers will exhaust their unemployment benefits without finding work. Across America the unemployment rate is rising; nationally, the rate stands at 5.1% and leading economists believe the downturn has not yet bottomed out. The unemployment rate for the 29th District ranges from a low of 4.7% in Ontario County to a high of 5.9% in Allegany County. Chemung and Schuyler Counties have the second highest unemployment rate at 5.7% and Steuben County is closely behind at 5.4% as of April 2008.
"This legislation would greatly assist these workers and their families as they struggle to pay for the skyrocketing cost of gasoline and food during this difficult and uncertain time," said Rep. Kuhl.
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