Emergency Unemployment Benefits Are Not Forgotten

As politicians have shifted their focus to a discussion of minimum wage this spring, addressing the December expiration of emergency unemployment benefits, retroactively, appeared increasingly difficult. However, the Senate now appears ready to raise the issue, again, nearly two months after the emergency benefits expired.

The number of Americans, who have been cut off from unemployment insurance due to congressional inaction, will swell to just under 2 million people as February draws to a close. Approximately 1.3 million Americans were abruptly cut off from the program on Dec. 28, 2013, and the number denied benefits will continue to grow without congressional action. More than $3 billion in unemployment checks has not been distributed to unemployed workers as a result of the program‘s expiration.

The cut in unemployment compensation will continue to exacerbate shortages at food banks, elevate mortgage delinquency rates, and inhibit the ability of job-seekers to continue their search, if no action is taken.

Payroll employment, the labor market participation rate, and long-term unemployment have still not returned to pre-recession levels, and robust job growth in the near term appears unlikely. For these reasons, efforts to extend emergency unemployment compensation have attracted bipartisan support, especially among conservatives in states still plagued with high unemployment. Nonetheless, only four Republican Senators supported moving forward with the proposal in a procedural vote in early February.

Extending emergency unemployment benefits is a vital piece of unfinished business for this Congress, and it is perhaps the only vehicle of its kind that could provide relief to job-seekers trying to make it in a tough market. An extension of the emergency unemployment compensation program (EUC) should continue to be pursed for the same reasons the minimum wage should be increased-- the economy is not working for the average American. We can, and should, help low-wage job workers, those working part-time for economic reasons, and unemployed job seekers.

For a breakdown of ongoing state-by-state impacts, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities has produced a concise chart that extends through December 2014 here.

 

For Further Reading:

Emergency Unemployment Benefits Are Not ForgottenThe Fine Print blog, Feb. 26, 2014

Emergency Unemployment Benefits: Ways to Take ActionThe Fine Print blog, March 6, 2014

Emergency Unemployment Benefits: Time to Petition the GovernmentThe Fine Print blog, March 12, 2014

Emergency Unemployment Benefits: Compromise in the SenateThe Fine Print blog, March 14, 2014

Emergency Unemployment Benefits: Boehner Signals Reluctance in the HouseThe Fine Printblog, March 21, 2014

Emergency Unemployment Benefits Extension Clears First Hurdle in the SenateThe Fine Printblog, March 28, 2014

Extending Emergency Unemployment: Senate Finally Expected to Vote to Extend Benefits   and Rush through Corporate Tax CutsThe Fine Print blog, April 2, 2014

Emergency Unemployment Benefits Bill Passes the Senate, Increasing Pressure on the HouseThe Fine Print blog, April 8, 2014

Stories of Americans Cut Off of Emergency Unemployment CompensationGovernment Matters, April 22, 2014

Emergency Unemployment Extension Expected to Take Back Seat to Tax ExtendersThe Fine Print blog, April 25, 2014

back to Blog

Here is the list of the Republican House of Representatives that need to be called on a daily (if not more) basis to ask for/demand their support for passing the Extension of Unemployment (EUC) benefits ASAP! Please call the entire list (not just the state you live in). Let them know we are united and strong by saying: "This isn't funny, we want OUR money! Please pass the Emergency Unemployment Compensation benefits NOW!" Last name of Representative, First name, & last four digits of phone number. *all phone number start with (202) 225-_ _ _ _ Arizona Gosar, Paul 2315 Salmon, Matt 2635 Schweikert, David 2190 Franks, Trent 4576 Arkansas Crawford, Rick 4076 Griffin, Tim 2506 Womack, Steve 4301 Cotton, Tom 3772 Florida Miller, Jeff 4136 Southerland, Steve 5235 Yuho, Ted 5744 Crenshaw, Ander 2501 Desantis, Ron 2706 Mica, John 4035 Posey, Bill 3671 Webster, Daniel 2176 Nugent, Richard 1002 Bilirakas, Gus 5755 Jolly, David 5961 Ross, Dennis 1252 Buchanan, Vern 5015 Rooney, Tom 5792 Diaz-Balart 4211 Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana 3931 Georgia Kingston, Jack 5831 Westmoreland, Lynn 5901 Price, Tom 4501 Woodall, Robert 4272 Scott, Austin 6531 Collins, Doug 9893 Broun, Paul 4101 Gingrey, Phil 2931 Graves, Tom 5211 Idaho Labrador, Paul 6611 Simpson, Mike 5531 Illinois Roskam, Peter 4561 Davis, Rodney 2371 Hultgren, Randy 2976 Shimus, John 5271 Kinzinger, Adam 3635 Schock, Aaron 6201 Indiana Walorski, Jacki 3915 Stutzman, Marlin 4436 Rokita, Todd 5037 Brooks, Susan 2276 Messer, Luke 3021 Bucshon, Larry 4636 Young, Todd5315 Iowa Latham, Tom 5476 King, Steve 4426 Kansas Huelskamp, Tim 2715 Jenkins, Lynn 6601 Yoder, Kevin 2865 Pompeo, Mike 6216 Kentucky Whitfield, Ed 3115 Gutherie, Brett 3501 Massie, Thomas 3465 Rogers, Harold 4601 Barr, Andy 4706 Louisiana Scalise, Steve 3015 Boustany, Charles 2031 Fleming, John 2777 McAllister, Vance 8490 Cassidy, WIlliam 3901 Missouri Wagner, Ann 1621 Luetkemeyer, Blaine 2956 Hartzler, Vicky 2876 Graves, Sam 7041 Long, Billy 6536 Smith, Jason 4404 Nebraska Fortenberg, Jeff 4806 Terry, Lee 4155 Smith, Adrian 6435 Ohio Chabot, Steve 2216 Wenstrup, Brad 3164 Jordan, Jim 2676 Latta, Robert 6405 Johnson, BIll 5705 Gibbs, Bob 6265 *Boehner, John 6205 Turner, Michael 6465 Tiberi, Pat 5355 Joyce, David 5731 Stivers, Steve 2015 Renacci, Jim 3876 Oklahoma Briderstine, Jim 2211 Mullin, Markwayne 2701 Lucas, Frank 5565 Cole, Tom 6165 Lankford, James 2132 Pennsylvania Kelly, Mike 5406 Perry, Scott 5836 Thompson, Glenn 5121 Gerlach, Jim 2315 Meehan, Pat 2011 Fitzpatrick, Michael 4276 Shuster, BIll 2431 Marino, Tom 3731 Barletta, Lou 6511 Rothfus, Keith 2065 Dent, Charles 6411 Pitts, Joseph 2411 Murphy, Tim 2301 South Carolina Wilson, Joe 2452 Duncan, Jeff 5301 Gowdy, Trey 6030 Mulvaney, Mick 5501 Rice, Tom Tennesee Roe, Phil 6356 Duncan Jr, John 5435 Fleischman, Chuck 3271 Des Jarlais, Scott 6831 Black, Diane 4231 Blackburn, Marsha 2811 Fincher, Stephen 4714 Texas Gohmert, Louie 3035 Poe, Ted 6565 Johnson, Sam 4201 Hall, Ralph 6673 Hensarling, Jeb 3484 Barton, Joe 2002 Culberson, John 2571 Brady, Kevin 4901 McCaul, Michael 2401 Conaway, Michael 3605 Granger, Kay 5071 Thornberry, Mac 3706 Weber, Randy 2831 Flores, Bill 6105 Neugebauer, Randy 4005 Smith, Lamar 4236 Olsen, Pete 5951 Marchant, Kenny 6605 Williams, Roger 9896 Brgess, Michael 7772 Farenthold, Blake 7742 Carter, John 3864 Sessions, Pete 2231 Stockman, Steve 1555 Utah Bishop, Rob 0453 Stewart, Chris 9730 Chaffetz, Jason 7751 Wisconsin Ryan, Paul 3031 Sensenbrenner, James 5101 Petri, Thomas 2476 Duffy, Sean 3365 Ribble, Reid 5665 Wyoming Lummis, Cynthia 2311
There is a new article by Jessica now, "EUC, Boehner signals reluctance in House." Since the lateat article will be included in people's current "google searches" please join the conversation there! Thank you!