Feb. 5—The U.S. House of Representatives overcame longstanding opposition by Republican leaders and approved a six-month extension of emergency federal unemployment insurance (UI) aid for jobless workers who have exhausted their state unemployment benefits. The Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) program provides up to 13 weeks of federal UI benefits to jobless workers who have exhausted their state benefits without finding work.
“It’s now up to President Bush to reverse his opposition and prove that his compassion for working families extends to those who want to work but cannot find jobs. This vote shows that the extension could happen immediately with bipartisan support if the president would give the green light,” says AFL-CIO President John Sweeney.
The 227—179 House vote Feb. 4 to renew the TEUC, part of an amendment offered by Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), now goes to the Senate. The Senate must approve the extension and Bush must agree to sign—not veto—legislation that extends the TEUC and provides income protection for jobless workers.
Republican Leaders Twice Rejected Helping Jobless Workers
In December, Bush and Republican congressional leaders allowed the TEUC to expire and in late January rejected efforts by Democratic lawmakers to pass legislation extending the TEUC. Senate Democrats also sought unsuccessfully to extend TEUC in January.
In Wednesday’s vote, 39 Republicans broke ranks and voted for the Miller amendment.
Number of Long-Term Unemployed Workers at Highest Level
A recent analysis by the nonpartisan Center on Budget and Policy Priorities found 375,000 people exhausting unemployment benefits in January—without a federal program to fall back—represented, the highest single-month total in 30 years. It also found some 2 million people would run out of regular benefits without the federal back-up program between January and June, a record for any six-month period in history.
Since Bush took office, the economy has lost 2.9 million private-sector jobs and in December, the economy created only 1,000 private-sector jobs. Bush is now on track to become the first president since the Great Depression to preside over net job losses during his term.
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