Hinojosa Joins Effort to Force House Republicans to Allow a Vote on the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act

Press Release

Today, Congressman Rubén Hinojosa is taking action to force an up-or-down vote on key legislation that would extend unemployment insurance for more than 2 million Americans. Congressman Hinojosa joined his colleagues in signing a discharge petition, led by Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), to bring up the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act (H.R. 3546), championed by Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI). The bill extends emergency unemployment insurance for nearly 5 million Americans looking for work through the end of the year.

"The economic crisis suffered from the cut-off of unemployment compensation has continued for 2 months, spread to 2 million Americans, including 105,409 here in Texas, and cost our state's economy $171,362,151," said Congressman Hinojosa. "Despite repeated Democratic efforts, Republicans in Congress have refused to restore this vital economic lifeline that helps people support their families and pay their bills while they look for a new job. This is a simple and reasonable request, to our colleagues across the aisle. We ask that they not punish people who are trying to find jobs , but instead, help them to succeed."

The number of people who have lost their unemployment benefits as a result of the program's Dec. 28 expiration surpassed two million last week, according to a new analysis from Ways and Means Committee Democrats. Every week, 72,000 people, on average, are losing their unemployment benefits nationwide without an extension of the program.

Despite the growing struggles, House Republicans have blocked multiple efforts by Democrats to bring up legislation to extend the program on the House floor. Last month a Senate measure to extend the program came one vote short of the 60 votes necessary to move forward legislation. To overcome this opposition, today Democrats are launching a discharge petition to force action on this widely supported legislation. The discharge petition will require the House to consider the unemployment insurance extension legislation once a majority of Members of Congress (218) have signed the petition.

"With hope that with enough pressure, today's extraordinary step to force a vote on extending emergency employment insurance to support families and grow our local economy will succeed," said Congressman Hinojosa. "Action to create jobs and build an economy that works for everyone must start with renewing unemployment insurance for Americans who were laid off in the recession through no fault of their own."

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