Emergency Unemployment Benefits: Compromise in the Senate

A bipartisan plan has been laid out to extend emergency unemployment benefits for five months, according to a press release made public by Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI).

With a crucial amount of Republican support, the legislation will likely be approved by the Senate, which is expected to vote on the bill during the week of March 24. The following Republicans have joined Democrats to support the bill: Dean Heller (D-NV), Susan Collins (R-ME), Rob Portman (R-OH), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Mark Kirk (R-IL). If you are from these states, please thank them.

As a part of the Senate compromise, the unemployment insurance program will be extended in exchange for cost savings and policy changes elsewhere, which pay for the approximately $10 billion in unemployment benefits:

The Senate deal came as a surprise to some in Washington, with The Washington Post reporting “Unemployment insurance is back from the dead”. In reality, there was always at least one group of people for whom the unemployment extension demand never “died” – the hard-pressed Americans hurt by the expiration of this vital program, as well as their families and communities.

Advocates for extending emergency unemployment benefits have been engaged, persistent, and active. But this is only half the battle. It is unclear whether House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) will allow a retroactive extension of emergency unemployment benefits. Stick with this and keep the pressure on.

The following are resources to make sure politicians continue to hear your voice on emergency unemployment compensation (EUC):

  • Enter your zip code here, and you’ll be directed to a letter put together by the Half in Ten campaign urging your representative to support the unemployment extension when the issue comes up in the House.
  • Call your representative using this number, provided by the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME): 877-363-6141.
  • Sign a petition to the White House, bringing the president’s attention to the issue and prompting a response, here. More than a thousand of you have signed in the last two days.
  • Sign MoveOn.org’s petition to restore emergency unemployment insurance here.
  • Share your story via our web form here, which we will share with representatives and journalists to highlight the urgency of renewing unemployment insurance.
  • Join our Google Group to share stories and resources with others who are either unemployed or passionate about the issue.
  • Find addresses, phone numbers, and contact information for federal and elected officials here.
  • Stay in touch with the Center for Effective Government by signing up for our e-mail updates and action alerts here.

 

 

EDITOR'S NOTE (3/19/14):

Good afternoon, everyone,

I would like to take a moment and respond to concerns raised regarding this post.

The Center for Effective Government has discussed and looked into reports of harassment and spamming in the comments sections of this post. While looking into such complaints, it has been brought to my attention that certain comments were temporarily taken down for review.

In the interest of ensuring this space remain a safe place for individuals to share their experiences, opinions, and perspectives, we will be monitoring this blog especially closely now to ensure those interested in respectfully contributing to the discussion around emergency unemployment benefits are safe.

I look forward to supporting you all in continuing this important dialogue.

Best,

- J

 

The stories shared by our readers have deeply moved us. Click the button below to view our "Emergency Unemployment Benefits Stories Page". We've featured stories from those impacted by the expiration of emergency unemployment benefits, as well as a counter reflecting the number of Americans impacted.

 

 

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

It's about time. Why didn't they work today and through Saturday to get this done. Now we sit and wait a whole week again with nothing.
There are now 4-articles about the Emergency Unemployment (EUC) by the Center For Effective Government: 2/26: EUC Benefits- Are Not Forgotten 3/6: EUC Benefits- Ways To Take Action 3/12: EUC Benefits- Time To Petition the Government 3/14: EUC-compromise in the Senate Please visit each article, however you will see the most bloggers sharing thoughts, ideas, and information on the 3/6 article (Ways To Take Action). We thought it was easier to remain on one blog instead of moving to the newest article. To make maneuvering between the 4-articles easy, there is an underlined "click here" link located right after each story! To make identifying one another more easily, please type in "a name", other wise it will say anonymous. You don't have to use your real name! Make something up! Thanks!
This blog is dead. Only 2 comments.
Right....
We need this to pass on Monday March 24th 2014 Come on House , Senators, Congress, Let us the people get our life back together Why are you so hard on us you have Families just like us you don't care about them either Come on open up your heart Live, Love ,Give back to the ones that hurting Its really not our fault the World I so messed up you're the ones who work in office to keep the Country running so why when the Jobs leave the country or Lay people off or down size you blame us the people Please step back take a better look it all again in your control . So on that note please let us the people get back on our feet & live good like you do I Love to Work Give me a Job in office the House or what every I'll take it (WHAT WOULD JESUS DO ) OPEN YOUR HEART LIVE IN OUR SHOES FOR A YEAR OR SO SEE IF YOU FEEL YOU'RE BEENING TREATED RIGHT BY OUR COUNTRY >!!!!!!!!!!! SO AGAIN PLEASE PASS THIS EXTENSION NEXT WEEK MARCH 24th THROUGH 27TH THE LAST WEEK OF MARCH BEEN WITHOUT SENCE DECEMBER28TH THATS 13 WEEKS AGO DN'T SEEUS LOSE OUR HOUSES,CARS, OU KIDS HUNGRY, LET ME & OTHER GET BACK ON OUR FEET I HOPE & PRAY TO TRY & NEVER FALL AGAIN IT REALLY HURTS TO BE WALKED ON WHILE THE HOUSE SIT & WAIT WEIGHT NO MORE MOVE FOWARD HELP HELP HELP HELP HELP THIS TO SHALL COME TO PASS (IN JESUS NAME WE ALL PRAY) THANK YOU . SIGN WE ARE ONE SO LETS LOVE ALL AFTER MARCH 2014 WE DON'T HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE @ THIS NOVEBER 2014 WE CAN'T WAIT THAT LONG REPUBLICANS DEMACRATES HOUSE CONGRESS SENATORS PLEASE OPEN YOUR HEART & PASS NEXT EEK OUR LIVES DEPEND ON YOU ALL .!!!
Anonymous: great letter! Anonymous@1:01 am: You are blogging when most are sleeping! Please read my post right before yours! There are now 4-articles on this sight and everyone is spread across them. Most are still under the article Ways To Take Action. For the last 3-weeks we have been fighting non-stop for this bill taking time away from family and other obligations. With the great news on Thursday evening about the Politicians coming to a resolution we were thrilled (and exhausted). Congress is on vacation now for the next week. We are going to re-group and take action this next week so the bill will pass quickly week of 24th! Please keep checking in and share your thoughts moving forward!
Good Morning Vietnam! The EUC bill (S2077) WILL pass the Senate when they return from vacation on the 24th because 5-republicans are now "co-sponsoring" the bill. This means there is enough votes! Our new fight will be the House of Representatives and Speaker of House Boehner (aka Bonehead). FYI: it is prounounced BAY- NER. He gets to decide if it even gets a chance to be voted on by the House! The same pressure we used to put on the Republican Senators, we need to do for the House of Representatives. After that, we know the President will sign it into law! Everyone relax this weekend and we will re-group next week for the final battle!
(TNT)@ 1:09 I neant no harm...I've seen and been on the other blogs. I was talking about this one the latest. TRUST ME NO DISRESPECT WAS INTENDED.
No biggie Anonymous! Glad you are with us!
John Boehner needs to step aside and allow this program to be re-implemented. John is an old-timer and if he continues to make decision like this he wont last for very much longer. His supporter are becoming a dying breed. Do what's right and extend this program with retro-active payments. If wouldn't make any sense to place a start and stop on a program that should have never ended in the first place! Good luck everyone.