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NewsFlash: June 10, 2008

EPI urges immediate action on unemployment benefits extension

The following is a statement on pending legislation to extend unemployment benefits from Economic Policy Institute Vice-President Ross Eisenbrey, who has written extensively on the topic:

“For months, as the nation’s economy has deteriorated, members of Congress have tried and failed to push through a common-sense extension of unemployment insurance benefits. Now there is another chance. House leaders plan to vote as soon as tomorrow (Wednesday) on a stand-alone extension bill passed Monday by the House Ways and Means Committee. The extension, which adds 13 weeks of benefits to unemployed workers who’ve exhausted their benefits, might also remain attached to the emergency supplemental appropriations bill for war funding. Congress should use every possible vehicle to put this issue before the president.  For the families of the millions of workers who are exhausting their right to unemployment compensation, the deteriorating job market is a real emergency.  There are now only 3.7 million job vacancies but 8.5 million unemployed looking for work.  The fault is not with the jobless; the problem is a failing economy and the government’s failure to turn it around.” 

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