Weller: My last act to help the unemployed
Washington,
Oct 3, 2008 -
Legislation extending unemployment assistance especially to
people who need it most passed the House this afternoon by a 368-28 vote. Included in the package are provisions pushed
by U.S. Rep. Jerry Weller (R-Morris), targeting assistance to people in “high
unemployment” states – including Illinois – where work is the hardest to
find. Weller, the Ranking Republican on
the House subcommittee that oversees unemployment benefits, had pushed for the
targeted approach all year.
“This morning’s unemployment numbers show this legislation
is needed immediately,” Weller said.
“The number of people out of work grew once again to 9.5 million. In my home state of Illinois, nearly a half-million people are
out of work, for a rate of 7.3 percent.
“This legislation helps people who want to work, but simply
have not been able to find work because of current economic circumstances. It focuses on helping people who need it most
– those who live in states hurt worst by the economic downturn, like my fellow
Illinoisans. This approach is
pro-worker, pro-business, pro-Illinois, and pro-taxpayer.”
“I note that this legislation marked what will likely by my
last speech before the House in my role as Ranking Republican on the Income
Security and Family Support Subcommittee,” Weller said. “When named to this position last year I
promised to work to ensure those who need help receive the help they need. Today again we honor that promise.”
The bill would allow an Illinois worker who has lost his or her job
to be eligible for 13 additional weeks (for a total of 52 weeks) of federal
unemployment benefits. The bill maintains
the longstanding bipartisan Federal policy that people who have worked 20 weeks
of the year would be eligible for 52 weeks (one year) of benefits – a policy
that has been in effect since 1981.
“I wish this legislation was not necessary, but it is,”
Weller said. “The economic concerns we
see affecting the stock market and credit market have a real effect on real
people with real jobs. I am glad that
one of the last pieces of legislation I have had a hand in crafting will give a
hand up to people in Illinois
who are living under tough economic circumstances.”