Rep. Reyes voted to pass legislation that would extend unemployment benefits for American workers struggling to find jobs.

Congressman Silvestre Reyes, D-El Paso, joined a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives in passing legislation that would extend unemployment benefits for American workers struggling to find jobs. The Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation Act (H.R. 5749) would provide up to 13 weeks of extended unemployment benefits to jobless workers in every state. The legislation was approved by a vote of 274 - 137 and will now proceed to the Senate for consideration.

"Many Americans who have lost their jobs are struggling to find employment in the current economic environment," said Congressman Reyes. "This legislation will help many jobless Americans who are on the verge of running out of unemployment benefits and are worried about making ends meet."

For the fifth straight month, the economy has lost jobs and the U.S. unemployment rate rose from 5.0% in April to 5.5% in May. The economy has lost nearly 325,000 jobs this year.

The Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation Act would benefit 3.8 million unemployed Americans. The bill would provide up to 13 additional weeks of unemployment benefits to jobless individuals, many of whom are nearing the current 26-week limit.

While extending unemployment benefits is one of the most cost-effective and fast-acting ways to stimulate the economy, the Bush Administration has threatened to veto the measure.

"I applaud my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in the House of Representatives for passing this legislation by a wide margin," added Reyes. "I encourage the President to reconsider his veto threat and allow jobless Americans to receive these much-needed benefits."