House Approves Yarmuth-Sponsored Extension Of Unemployment Insurance Benefits

Press Release

This evening, the U.S. House of Representatives approved H.R. 3548, legislation cosponsored by Congressman John Yarmuth (KY-3) that will extend unemployment insurance benefits to thousands of Kentuckians currently searching for work.

"With an average of six Kentuckians seeking every one available job, it's crucial that we extend unemployment benefits," said Congressman Yarmuth. "This 13 week extension will provide much needed stability and security for laid-off workers and their families in Louisville."

Without this extension, over 3,800 Kentuckians would exhaust their benefits by the end of September and another 14,000 would lose their benefits by the end of December.

H.R. 3548 -- the Unemployment Benefits Extension Act -- was approved by the House today by a vote of 331 to 83. The legislation extends unemployment benefits for 13 weeks in states where the unemployment rate has averaged 8.5 percent in the last three months. This legislation does not add to the deficit due to built-in cost offsets.

H.R. 3548 now moves to the Senate, where it must be approved before it can be sent to the President's desk.

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