| ( Last Updated: 5/11/04 )
MAY 2004
In the face of threats by friends of the unemployed to block the major corporate tax benefits bill now before the Senate, the Senate leadership has agreed to a vote to extend federal jobless benefits.
The vote will come on Tuesday, May 11, 2004. The amendment is co-sponsored by Senators Maria Cantwell and George Voinovich. If passed, it would provide up to 13 weeks of extended benefits to workers who exhausted their regular state benefits after December 21, 2003, have not received a first extension and remain unemployed. Like previous votes, this one will require 60 votes for passage because of Senate rules.
APRIL 2004
Recently, Alan Greenspan, the Federal Reserve Chairman, called an additional temporary federal extension of unemployment benefits in testimony before Congress' Joint Economic Committee. His written statement pointed to higher than average exhaustions of state jobless benefits. "The anxiety that many in our workforce feel will not subside quickly," Greenspan said. After Greenspan finished his statement, Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) asked for his opinion on extending jobless benefits and Greenspan replied that because of the size of the exhaustions, an extension would be a good idea.
Even in an address that largely focused on signs of economic growth, Greenspan recognized that extending benefits now would follow in the pattern of prior recessions, when extra benefits were continued to be made available until employment rebounded. Such strong words from the nation's top economic policymaker could help push Congress to renew the jobless benefits that were fully phased out on April 3. Even President Bush has said that he will sign an extension bill-if Congress can reach agreement. Currently, an extended benefits bill is being discussed as part of the upcoming FSC/ETI tax bill before the Senate. With over a million workers affected by the failure to extend unemployment benefits, Congress and the President are still feeling pressure to address the issue.
FEBRUARY 2004
After repeated failed attempts by Democrats over the last two months, the Senate finally held a vote on the issue of renewing federal unemployment benefits. The vote was on an amendment offered to the Gun Liability Bill (S 1805) and would have renewed the TEUC program for 6 months retroactive to December 2003.
The amendment failed 58 - 39. Because the cost was not offset, it would have taken 60 votes to wait a budget point of order - not the usualy simple majority.
This vote is very encouraging however, as it showcases that a large majority of Senators, both Democrats and Republicans, support the extension of benefits. This vote builds upon the one in the House of Representatives a few weeks earlier where a majority of Representatives voted in support of continuing benefits for the unemployed. It is not much more difficult for the GOP leadership to oppose aa straight vote on restoring the TEUC program for unemployment benefits in both chambers.
NOVEMBER 2003
After another week of inaction on the extension of unemployment benefits, Congress is coming dangerously close to adjournment and once again leaving Washington for the holidays without helping the nation's unemployed workers who have exhausted their benefits. Neither the Senate nor the House of Representatives has scheduled a vote on any proposal for extension of the federal benefits program. Unless the program is reauthorized, it will expire on December 31 and thousands of workers will lose unemployment benefits at a crucial time.
Last week, during an all-night debate about federal judicial nominations, Senate Democrats submitted motions on ten separate occasions for a "unanimous consent" vote on the latest bill (S 1853) to reauthorize and expand the federal Temporary Emergency Unemployment Compensation program. On each occasion, the motion was objected to by Republican colleagues and defeated.
Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR) introduced a bill (S 1839) to reauthorize the program for six months, without addressing any of the serious limitations of the extension program, such as the number of workers running out of federal extended benefits and the multiple high unemployment states that now only qualify for the 13 weeks of extended benefits. Some Republican leaders may not even support any extension, even a proposal from a fellow Republican. A spokeswoman for Senator Don Nickles (R-OK), said "[the Senator] is cautious about an additional extension." She continued, "There comes a time to turn off the faucet before you drain the well dry." In this case, the well is not dry - expanded emergency benefits would be funded out of surplus in the federal unemployment insurance trust fund.
Advocates are continuing the push for a vote on an actual fix to federal extended benefits (in the form of S 1853) in the next few days before Congress adjourns instead of merely extending a flawed program.
OCTOBER 2003
Today, the Democrats began a major push to force both Houses of Congress to vote on the future of the federal extension of unemployment benefits. Thus far, the Republican leaders of the House and the Senate have failed to schedule a vote on any of the bills to reauthorize or expand the program.
Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) moved for unanimous consent for the Senate to adopt the extension legislation. The motion in this case was to pass a modified version of the Democratic extension bill (S 1708), providing 26 weeks
of extended benefits to all workers (up from the current 13 weeks), plus seven more weeks in a number of "high unemployment" states. The motion was defeated when it was objected to by Republican Senator Michael Crapo of Idaho. Until Congress recesses for the Thanskgiving holiday, Democratic Senators are expected to continue calling for
"unanimous consent" on their extension legislation.
OCTOBER 2, 2003
The Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act (S 1708) was introduced by Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) with nine original cosponsors. The bill would provide unemployment benefits to 4.6 million Americans by extending the federal unemployment benefits program for an additional six months, and increase the amount of benefits to 26 weeks. The legislation would also provide 7 additional weeks of benefits for 15 high unemployment states, include coverage for the one million workers who have exhausted their extended benefits already without finding work, and expand coverage for low-wage and part-time workers.
The current federal unemployment benefits program will expire on December 31, 2003. If Congress does not pass an extension, they will cut off thousands of unemployed workers from receiving much need cash assistance during the holidays. Right now there are 3 unemployed workers for every job available in American and long term unemployment is a huge problem in the country with over 2 million people out of work for 6 months or longer.
CHN Human Needs Report Coverage
Nation's Unemployed Still Waiting For Vote To Extend Federal Benefits (11/21/03)
Congressional Democrats Push For Votes To Extend Unemployment Benefits (11/7/03)
Federal Unemployment Benefits Program Will Expire December 31 Without Extension (10/24/03)
House And Senate Pass Unemployment Benefit Extension (5/23/03)
Unemployment Benefits Extended for Some Workers (1/17/03)
Resources
CBPP: The Mechanics and Immediate Implications of the December 21 Cut-Off in the TEUC Program (12/3/04)
CBPP: Plan to Reconvene On January 20 Underscoare Need To Act Now On Temp Unemployment Benefits (11/19/03)
CBPP: What Type of Unemployment Benefits Extension Should be Adopted, and When? (11/12/03)
NELP: Helpful State-by-State Statistics on Unemployment Benefits (10/28/03)
EPI: Federal Action on Unemployment Benefits: Needed in March 2002, Needed Even More Today (10/17/03)
CBPP: The Mismatch Between Federal Unemployment Benefits and Current Labor Market Realities ( 10/15/03)
Status of S 1708
NOVEMBER 2003
After another week of inaction on the extension of unemployment benefits, Congress is coming dangerously close to adjournment and once again leaving Washington for the holidays without helping the nation's unemployed workers who have exhausted their benefits. Neither the Senate nor the House of Representatives has scheduled a vote on any proposal for extension of the federal benefits program. Unless the program is reauthorized, it will expire on December 31 and thousands of workers will lose unemployment benefits at a crucial time.
In the House, a spokesman for Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) commented on extending benefits by saying, "We're still examining the issue and haven't made a decision yet." Representative Jennifer Dunn (R-WA) has repeatedly said Republican leadership has promised that her legislation will be considered before the end of the session.
Advocates are continuing the push for a vote on an actual fix to federal extended benefits (in the form of HR 3244) in the next few days before Congress adjourns instead of merely extending a flawed program.
OCTOBER 2003
Democrats began a major push today to force both Houses of Congress to vote on the future of the federal extension of unemployment benefits. Despite these efforts, the Republican leaders of the House and the Senate have failed to schedule a vote on any of the bills to reauthorize or expand the program.
In the House, Representative Darlene Hooley (D-OR) has sponsored a discharge petition that calls on the House of Represenatives to vote first on the Democrat extension bill (HR 3244) and then, if that vote fails, to vote on the extension bill introduced by Republican Jennifer Dunn (R-WA)(HR 3270). The Republican bill would simply continue the current program beyond the December 31st deadline, while the Democratic bill would also provide several more weeks of assistance to millions of unemployed workers. Thus far, 125 Congresspeople have signed the discharge petition. It requires a majority (218) or representatives to force a vote.
OCTOBER 2, 2003
Representative Charles Rangel (D-NY) introduced the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act with 10 original cosponsors. The legislation would provide the same benefits and provisions as the Senate bill (see above).
The legislation currently has 45 cosponsors and is awaiting action in the House Ways and Means committee. There is no timetable for action on this bill.
( There are three other bills in the House addressing the need to extend the extended federal unemployment insurance program (TEUC). They are HR 3270 (Representative Dunn), HR 3156 (Representative Wu), and HR 3295 (Representative English). Representative Dunn's bill is the one most likely to receive attention in the House. For more information on these bills, contact Adam Hughes at ahughes@chn.org)
Human Needs Report Coverage
Nation's Unemployed Still Waiting For Vote To Extend Federal Benefits (11/21/03)
Congressional Democrats Push For Votes To Extend Unemployment Benefits (11/7/03)
Federal Unemployment Benefits Program Will Expire December 31 Without Extension (10/24/03)
House And Senate Pass Unemployment Benefit Extension (5/23/03)
Unemployment Benefits Extended for Some Workers (1/17/03)
Resources
CBPP: Plan to Reconvene On January 20 Underscoare Need To Act Now On Temp Unemployment Benefits (11/19/03)
NELP: Helpful State-by-State Statistics on Unemployment Benefits (10/28/03)
NELP: Despite Record Long-Term Joblessness, House Republicans Propose No More Relief for Unemployed ( 10/22/03)
EPI: Federal Action on Unemployment Benefits: Needed in March 2002, Needed Even More Today (10/17/03)
CBPP: The Mismatch Between Federal Unemployment Benefits and Current Labor Market Realities (10/15/03)
Status of HR 3244
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