Langevin
and Cicilline Urge Extension of Federal Unemployment Insurance
“In
a state with an unemployment rate at 9 percent, this benefit cut is
unacceptable,” said Langevin. “Our state is starting to show the signs of
economic recovery, but that process has been a slow one, and cutting
unemployment insurance would be a step in the wrong direction. I urge Speaker
Boehner and my colleagues in Congress to bring this issue to a vote so we can
extend this relief on which so many families rely.”
The
Congressmen applauded the work of their Senate colleagues Jack Reed and Sheldon
Whitehouse for their leadership on extending benefits. Reed introduced
legislation Wednesday to allow those affected to continue receiving benefits
for three months while Congress determines a long-term plan.
“Senator
Reed has truly been a leader on this issue, and I am hopeful that his efforts
to extend benefits immediately will be successful in the Senate,” Langevin
continued.
The
federal unemployment insurance program, formerly called Emergency Unemployment
Compensation, took effect in 2008 and has been reauthorized several times
since, as the economy continues its recovery. Despite the progress made since
near economic collapse, there are still 1.3 million fewer jobs than there were
before the recession began, and long-term unemployment as a percentage of the
unemployed is 37 percent. On average, nationwide, the program provides about
$300 per week to recipients.
Failure
to extend federal unemployment insurance would also hurt job growth locally and
throughout the nation, costing the economy 240,000 jobs, according to the White
House Council of Economic Advisers.