Gov. Beshear Urges Congress To Back Extension Of Unemployment Benefits

Press Release

As the Commonwealth faces an 11.2 percent unemployment rate, Gov. Steve Beshear today sent a letter to members of Kentucky's Congressional delegation urging them to back any measure designed to further provide a temporary extension of certain unemployment benefits.

"It is critical that Congress immediately address this issue as many Kentuckians are exhausting their benefits and struggling to put food on the table and pay their bills," said Gov. Beshear.

Last month Congress approved another extension of unemployment benefits that was intended to give all states 14 additional weeks of benefits and those states with high unemployment rates, including Kentucky, another six weeks for a total of 20 more weeks of benefits. However, language in the current legislation will cause states with high unemployment not to qualify for the additional six weeks because the measure will expire Dec. 31, 2009.

"Kentuckians desperately need the full 20 weeks of benefits that was intended by the original legislation," wrote Gov. Beshear. "I know additional benefits will be a relief to long-term unemployed Kentuckians who are trying to provide for their families while they continue to search for work."

The House of Representatives is currently considering a fix that would be included in the Department of Defense Appropriations bill. The bill would fix the glitch by allowing for a two-month extension in emergency unemployment compensation. It would also continue the extra $25 a week benefit approved in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

In little more than a year's time, nearly 123,000 Kentuckians have claimed emergency unemployment benefits after their traditional benefit allowances expired. During this prolonged economic downturn, between 800 and 1,200 Kentuckians each week have exhausted emergency benefits.

To contact your Representative and Senators in support of further extending unemployment benefits, visit: https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml or http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

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