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The Congressional Connector |
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Week of June 9 - 13, 2008 |
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Lawmakers Work to Advance Unemployment Insurance Extension Despite White House Opposition
With the nation’s economy sputtering and unemployment rising, House lawmakers are working to advance a critically-needed extension of unemployment insurance (UI) benefits to provide up to 13 weeks of extended unemployment benefits in every state (with an additional 13 weeks in high unemployment states like Michigan).
Last month, both the House and Senate included a UI extension in a wide-ranging Supplemental Appropriations bill that funds a large variety of military and domestic needs. While the UI provisions in both versions of the Supplemental are identical, the House- and Senate-passed bills were very different in many other respects. House and Senate negotiators are attempting to reach a compromise on the Supplemental funding bill that could be approved and sent to the White House, but bridging the differences is proving to be very difficult, especially given the Bush Administration’s objections to so many of the provisions of both versions of the bill.
In order to try to break the impasse as far as the UI extension goes, the House Leadership plans to bring up a stand-alone bill to extend unemployment benefits this week in the House of Representatives. This action follows news on Friday that the increase in the unemployment rate in May was the biggest one month increase in over 20 years (from 5% to 5.5%), and the total number of unemployed workers has increased by over 1.6 million over the last 12 months. In addition, the exhaustion rate for regular unemployment benefits is higher than at the beginning of any of the past five recessions. And, it is higher than when President Bush signed the last UI extensions in 2001.
One of the biggest obstacles to extending unemployment benefits is the lack of support from the White House. On June 6, Reps. Levin, Rangel and McDermott wrote a letter to President Bush urging him to support an extension of unemployment benefits for struggling families. To read the letter in full, click here.
The letter to President Bush read, in part: “We believe it would be both economically unwise and morally wrong to deny extended unemployment benefits to workers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. These unemployed workers and their families are suffering in an economy that both limits their employment prospects and drives up their cost of living. The data released today by the Department of Labor shows unemployment rising rapidly.
Rep. Levin Holds Anti-Drug Coalition Conference
On June 2, Rep. Levin sponsored a Community Anti-Drug Coalition conference and workshop to discuss substance abuse and the successful efforts of community coalitions to combat it. The conference was held at Macomb Community College in Warren. Approximately 200 attendees turned out for the all-day event to learn more about Drug Free Communities, a federal program created in 1997 by a law Rep. Levin co-authored, and how to build collaborative coalitions to reduce substance abuse at the local level. Coalitions bring together school officials, law enforcement officers, government officials, and others for a broad-ranging approach.
During the morning session, Oakland County Judge Phyllis McMillan, Macomb County Assistant Prosecutor Jim Biernat and high school students took part in a panel discussion of the roots of substance abuse, the methods of obtaining drugs or alcohol, and effective strategies to prevent youth from falling victim to substance abuse. The afternoon offered training sessions with representatives of the Community Anti Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA), and the Administrator of the Drug Free Communities program.
Hill Offices Field Teams in Race for the Cure
On June 7, more than 40,000 people from all over the country braved unseasonably high heat and humidity on the streets of Washington to raise nearly $5 million for cancer research, education and treatment in the annual Susan G. Komen National Race for the Cure. Some 30 congressional offices participated in the event, including Rep. Levin’s office, which fielded the largest Hill contingent of 30 staffers and members of their families.
This Week in the House of Representatives
The House is expected to debate the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act [H.R. 6003] as well as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act [H.R. 6063]. The House is also expected to debate stand-alone legislation [H.R. 5749] to extend unemployment benefits.
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To Contact Congressman Levin: -
Email Congressman Levin In Michigan: 27085 Gratiot Ave, Roseville, MI 48066 | (586) 498-7122 | (248) 968-2025
In Washington: 1236 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515 | (202) 225-4961
