November 4, 2009

Reid: Extending Unemployment Insurance Helps Families And Our Entire Economy

Washington, DC—Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid made the following statement today after the U.S. Senate voted 98-0 to extend workers’ unemployment insurance after more than three weeks of Republican delays:  

“By extending Americans’ unemployment insurance by up to 14 weeks – and up to 20 weeks in states like Nevada that have been hit the hardest – we are helping millions of families put food on the table and helping our economy recover more quickly.
 
“This overdue extension cannot come at a more critical time.  Many victims of the recession, who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own, are having trouble finding new permanent work.  They are burning through their savings and what they’ve put away for their children, forgoing necessary medical treatments and watching their monthly bills pile up.  Unemployment insurance – which is fully paid for and will not add a dime to the deficit – will help them get through the coming winter months and the holiday season with a little more security.
 
“We know that when an economy recovers, the unemployment rate is one of the last numbers to rebound.  So even as our economy begins to turn around, jobs are turning around slower, and it is our responsibility to ensure the out-of-work are not left out in the cold.
 
“We are also giving first-time homebuyers a tax credit for another seven months and making more people eligible to qualify for it. The current program has been greatly successful in bringing some stability to the housing market.  No state has been hit by foreclosures as hard as Nevada, and improving this program will continue to help us get back on track.
 
“While these important extensions are a good step forward for both struggling Americans and our nation’s economy, today’s vote doesn’t let Republicans off the hook.  For weeks, they deliberately drew out this process for no good reason, letting 200,000 Americans lose their unemployment benefits when they need them the most.  The fact that the Senate passed this bill overwhelmingly – 98-to-nothing – only underscores the Republicans’ narrow-minded and short-sighted strategy to waste the American taxpayer’s time – even on necessary and non-controversial bills.  Republicans may seek credit for their votes today, but their actions over the past three weeks show their true colors.”

« Back to Press Releases