Joe Applauds Senate Votes on Unemployment Benefits

Joe today applauded the long-overdue vote by the Senate to clear a major hurdle and bring to the floor legislation that will restore unemployment benefits for those who have suffered the worst effects of this economic crisis.

"Since the end of May, when Senate Republicans cut off unemployment benefits to 2.5 million Americans, I have urged my colleagues in Washington to break this deadlock and provide help to those who so desperately need it," said Joe. "At long last, pragmatism has won out over partisanship. More than half a million Pennsylvanians are out of work. This measure will make it easier for many of them to keep food on the table."

Joe helped advance an extension through the House on multiple occasions, but it has been repeatedly blocked in the Senate. Meanwhile, Congressman Toomey defended taxpayer-funded bonuses for Wall Street, but opposes supporting Pennsylvania families who are still bearing the brunt of this recession. Rather than helping Pennsylvanians who have lost their jobs, Congressman Toomey wants to add $650 billion to the deficit to benefit the richest Americans.

Economists have warned that the Senate's continued failure to extend unemployment insurance could endanger our tenuous economic recovery, and risk plunging the country into a "double-dip" recession. In fact, this marks the first time in history that Congress has ever allowed such benefits to expire when the national unemployment rate stood in excess of 7.2 percent.

Following final passage, the bill would head to the House, which had passed a different version of the benefits extension. Once signed into law, this legislation will reinstate unemployment insurance retroactively, so families that have been denied benefits will receive full payment dating back to the day they received their last check.

"I urge my colleagues in the House to act quickly," said Joe. "The Senate has made a significant step today, but those affected most by this recession cannot be forced to wait while leaders play politics with their security. The House must pass this bill promptly."

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