Shea-Porter Applauds Bipartisan First Step in Extending Emergency Unemployment Insurance

Press Release

WASHINGTON -- Today, Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) issued the following statement after the Senate voted to begin consideration of a bipartisan three-month extension of unemployment insurance (S. 1845) by a vote of 60 to 37:

"Today, a bipartisan group of Senators took the first step in extending emergency unemployment insurance -- a vital lifeline for 1.3 million Americans looking for work. Even as the economy continues to recover from the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, there are still three job applicants for every job opening. Millions of Americans refuse to give up on the American dream, and Congress shouldn't give up on them. I urge immediate action in the House of Representatives to do the right thing and help prevent job-seeking Americans from slipping into poverty."

Background

On December 12, 2013, Congresswoman Shea-Porter spoke on the House floor, highlighting the story of one Granite Stater set to lose unemployment benefits as a result of Congressional inaction.

On December 28, 2013, 1,350 Granite Staters lost access to federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) due to Congressional inaction. The expiration of unemployment insurance took $288,640 out of New Hampshire's economy last week alone, and each week, 150 Granite Staters are scheduled to lose access to unemployment benefits during the first half of 2014.

According to the White House Council of Economic Advisers (CEA), failure to extend federal unemployment insurance could cost the economy 240,000 jobs. The CEA estimates that, in New Hampshire alone, failing to extend the program could cost 225 jobs.

Signed by President George W. Bush, the federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation program was enacted in 2008 and has been reauthorized several times as the economy continues to recover. On average, nationwide, the program provides about $300 a week to recipients.

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