U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords Applauds Passage of Unemployment Benefits Extension

Press Release

Congresswoman criticizes "callous game of politicking' that delayed payments for 62,500 Arizonans

U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today welcomed passage of legislation extending unemployment benefits for Americans who have been out of work for six months or more, but said the action should have come far sooner.

"It is shameful that Americans who are unemployed through no fault of their own have been made pawns in a callous game of politicking," said Giffords. "For seven long weeks, the Senate had refused to act on this bill which provides basic support for Americans who are unable to find jobs."

Passage of the legislation will restore unemployment benefits for 62,500 Arizonans, Giffords said.

The House first took up this issue on May 28. On July 1, Giffords voted with the majority when the House passed the unemployment insurance extension. But the Senate did not take up the bill before going on its Fourth of July recess. On Wednesday, the Senate finally approved the extension. It then was sent back to the House, where Giffords again was part of the majority that supported the bill's final passage today in a 272-to-152 vote.

The extension bill will restore benefits for unemployed Americans who have been out of work for more than the 26 weeks of unemployment insurance offered by most states.

The legislation extends unemployment benefits through November. But because of the delay, an estimated 2.5 million Americans stopped receiving unemployment benefits June 2.

With the extension now approved, those people who were cut off will receive lump-sum payments retroactive to June 2. However, it may take two to four weeks for those benefit checks to arrive.

Giffords noted that some senators balked at approving the unemployment extension, claiming it would add to the deficit. But Giffords pointed out that unemployment benefits inject money into the economy. And getting people back to work and the economy going again are the first crucial steps to getting the federal deficit under control.

Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moodys.com, testified before the House Budget Committee this month that every dollar in unemployment benefits creates at least $1.61 in economic activity. And the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office has found extending unemployment compensation to be one of the most cost-effective and fastest-acting ways to stimulate the economy, creating up to $1.90 in economic activity for every dollar in unemployment benefits.

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