Hagan and State Legislators Urge Congress to Reinstate Unemployment Insurance for Out-of-Work North Carolinians

Press Release

U.S. Senator Kay Hagan today held a press conference with State Senator Josh Stein and State Representative Rosa Gill, urging the passage of her provision to reinstate North Carolina's eligibility for Emergency Unemployment Compensation benefits as part of a larger bill to extend the federal program. Out-of-work North Carolinians have been unable to receive these federal benefits since July 1, 2013 as a result of a state law passed by the North Carolina General Assembly. Hagan also announced that she has worked closely with the U.S. Department of Labor and obtained assurance that, if her provision passes, North Carolinians who lost their benefits last year will be able to receive the emergency unemployment benefits they missed out on if they are still out of work.

"The General Assembly knowingly and willingly violated federal law, and I refuse to let the people of our state suffer because of their reckless actions," said Senator Hagan. "I have worked closely with the Department of Labor to ensure that those North Carolinians who had their unemployment insurance terminated last year will be eligible to receive the emergency benefits they missed out on. North Carolinians struggling to get by while looking for work should receive the same benefits as citizens in other states, and I am fighting in the Senate to right this wrong for North Carolina."

The bipartisan legislation extending the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program, introduced by Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and Senator Dean Heller (R-NV), is scheduled for a procedural vote in the Senate later today.

Earlier this year, the North Carolina General Assembly irresponsibly passed legislation slashing state unemployment benefits, even though they knew their plan violated federal law and would make North Carolina the only state in the nation forced to terminate its participation in the federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation program. As a result, approximately 170,000 North Carolinians were no longer able receive federal unemployment benefits they were promised starting on July 1, 2013.

"Gov. McCrory and the Republicans in the General Assembly made North Carolina the only state in the nation to reject federally funded extended benefits for people who had been laid off and who were looking for a job," said State Senator Josh Stein. "While we can't undo all the damage caused by this reckless law, I commend Senator Hagan for working to bring some relief to struggling families who continue looking for work in this rough economic climate."

"It was clear to every legislator in Raleigh that the Republicans' bill would violate federal law and make North Carolina the only state to lose access to federal emergency unemployment insurance benefits, but they acted anyway knowing full well the consequences of their actions," said State Representative Rosa Gill. "I thank Senator Hagan for her efforts to restore federal unemployment benefits and clean up the mess caused by Republican leaders in the General Assembly."

In December, Hagan wrote to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus urging them to include a provision reinstating North Carolina's eligibility for federal benefits as part of any legislation extending the program beyond December 31st, 2013.

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