Press Release
June 12, 2008
Susan Davis Supports Extending Unemployment Benefits
Workers would get an additional 13 weeks of benefits
WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-53) voted to extend unemployment benefits for an additional 13 weeks for those unemployed workers who have already exhausted their benefits. States with higher rates of unemployed, such as California, would be able to provide up to 26 weeks of benefits.
The Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation Act (H.R. 5749) was approved by the House on a vote of 274 to 137.
“I recently spoke with a 51-year old constituent of mine from San Diego who was recently laid off,” said Davis, a member of the House Education and Labor Committee. “She has been actively looking for work but has been unable to find a job because of the poor economy. And to make matters worse, her unemployment benefits have just ended. This extension will give her and millions other Americans more time to find a good job. It will act as a second economic stimulus package as families put these extended benefits back into the economy.”
While the current unemployment rate of 5.5 percent is not at a historically high level, it is higher than average for the beginning of recession. The long term unemployed – those out of work for six months or longer – is at a much higher rate than in the past. The long-term unemployed rate is at 17 percent.
The additional benefits would be paid for by a trust fund created to pay for unemployment benefits. That trust fund is currently flushed with $38 billion in cash.
California’s unemployed account for 18 percent of the 5 percent of the total workers that are unemployed.
In January, Davis supported an economic stimulus package providing a recovery rebate to 117 million families, including 35 million families who work but make too little to pay income taxes and 13 million senior citizens. The broad-based stimulus package provided tax relief of up to $600 per individual and $1,200 per married couple, plus an additional $300 per child. Individuals have started receiving rebate checks this month.