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BERKLEY AGAIN VOTES TO EXTEND UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS |
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 For the second time in as many days, Congresswoman Shelley Berkley voted to extend unemployment benefits an additional 13 weeks for qualified Nevadans who are out of work. The bill, which was narrowly defeated yesterday, passed the House this afternoon on a vote of 274-137.
“While it may have taken two tries, we passed this 13 week unemployment extension package. I urge President Bush and Senate Republicans not to block this vital assistance for Americans who are out of work and in search of jobs,” said Berkley.
The legislation approved by the House would benefit 3.8 million
unemployed Americans -- providing up to 13 weeks of extended
unemployment benefits in every state to workers exhausting the 26 weeks
of regular unemployment benefits.
“Nevada has been hit by the economic slowdown being felt across the
U.S. and we are seeing higher unemployment rates as a result,” said
Berkley. “This federally funded extension will provide 13 additional
weeks of compensation for qualified individuals who are still in search
of employment. Once in place, our package will help thousands of
Nevadans cover their living expenses until they can return to work,”
said Berkley.
As a member of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, Berkley
worked to craft The Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation Act
(H.R. 5749) and is a cosponsor of the legislation.
“Nevada’s unemployment rate is higher than the national average and
more families in Las Vegas are in need of this assistance to pay the
rent and keep food on the table. I have no doubt that Las Vegas will
weather this storm, but in the meantime, more of our friends and
neighbors are in need of this assistance than ever before. Working
together, Congress can get these benefits into the hands of southern
Nevada families in need of this help,” said Berkley.
The package is entirely funded through federal resources and does not require any state funding.
“Because this is a federally funded extension of unemployment benefits,
there will be no cost to Nevada state government. This is especially
important given our record state budget shortfalls and the painful cuts
in important services that are being proposed as a result,” said
Berkley.
Without this legislation, a projected 3 to 3.5 million Americans will exhaust their unemployment benefits without finding work.
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