Benicia Herald - Rep. praises vote on unemployment benefits extension

U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson praised the bipartisan Senate vote Tuesday that launched consideration of a three-month extension of nationwide emergency unemployment insurance.

Thompson, a Democrat and Benicia's representative in the House, is a senior member of the Committee on Ways and Means.

In a statement Tuesday, he said, "Today's bipartisan vote in the Senate is a positive step toward reinstating an important economic lifeline that millions of Americans depend on as they make the transition from joblessness to employment."

Despite some economic recovery from the recession, Thompson said, "there is still just one job for every three unemployed workers. People want to work, but they're out of a job through no fault of their own."

He said the House majority should follow the Senate's lead. He urged other members of the House to "end their refusal to take up legislation that boosts our economy and helps make sure millions of American families are able to heat their homes and put food on the table as they look for a job."

Thompson is co-author of the House of Representatives bill 3546, the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2013, which would extend emergency unemployment insurance for one year. The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Thompson said 1.3 million Americans lost emergency unemployment insurance at the end of 2013, when the program expired., including 214,000 Californians, which cost the state nearly $65 million in just the first week of expired benefits.

"When folks get emergency unemployment insurance, they don't save it. This money is spent on rent, groceries and utilities," Thompson said. "It supports jobs and businesses in our community. Not only is emergency unemployment insurance an important economic lifeline that helps make sure millions of American families are able to heat their homes and put food on the table as they look for a job, it's a strong economic stimulant.

"Failing to extend these benefits hurts economic growth, and the only way to solve long-term unemployment is by creating jobs and growing our economy.

"This self-inflicted economic drain will only get worse as more than 12,000 people will lose their benefits each week until Congress acts. We need to extend these benefits now."

Basing his remarks on U.S. Department of Labor information, Thompson pointed out that another 325,000 Californians — 12,500 each week — will lose coverage by June unless Congress acts.