Bill Seeks to Give 99ers Extension of Unemployment Benefits
This Wednesday February 9th, Representatives Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Bobby Scott (D-VA) will hold a press conference to announce the reintroduction of a bill that would extend unemployment compensation to millions of jobless Americans who have exhausted their benefits. The Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act would provide an additional 14 weeks of unemployment benefits for all unemployed Americans. The press conference will take place at the Capital Visitors Center in Washington DC at 10am. Representatives Lee and Scott will be joined by Gregg Rose, co-founder of The American 99ers Union, and a representative of the Economic Policy Institute.
Previous attempts to extend unemployment compensation beyond the maximum 99 weeks have failed to gain support in Congress, mostly because there was no source of funding for the additional benefits. Michael White, co-founder of The American 99ers Union, says this time may be different.
"I think this time is different because they are suggesting a source of funding. I understand that Rep. Lee has suggested that this extension be paid for under The Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2008. I'm not sure exactly how that works but I am confident that Representatives Lee, Scott and others in the Congressional Black Caucus understand that this extension has to be paid for and will address that issue."
White added the presence of The American 99er Union at the press conference is a good indication that the pleas of the long term unemployed are being taken seriously.
"This is the first time that anyone in Congress has enlisted the 99er community and an advocacy group like the American 99ers Union to get involved in helping support a bill, and I think this shows their commitment to doing something for the 99ers."
On December 17, 2010, President Obama signed into law a bill extending the deadline to qualify for extended unemployment benefits through January 2012. Although this helped the more recently unemployed, it failed to add additional weeks of compensation for people who exhausted their benefits. These long term unemployed have nicknamed themselves 99ers for the number of weeks they have collected unemployment benefits and still cannot find work. The Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act would add an additional 14 weeks to the first Tier of EUC benefits. That would increase the Tier I benefits from 20 weeks to 34 weeks. For additional information on how EUC benefits and Tiers work, click here.
Meanwhile the jobless rate remains high in America. According the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate was 9% in January 2011.
Sources:
Representative Barbara Lee To Hold Press Conference Announcing A Bill To Help 99ers, Press Release, February 7, 2010
Jennifer Budd, New Jersey Unemployment Benefits: The Latest News on Extensions and Paperless Filing, Associated Content, December 24, 2010
US Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Situation Summary, February 4, 2011
Email conversation with Michael White February 8, 2011
Published by J Budd, RN - Featured Contributor in Health & Wellness
I am a registered nurse and former radio broadcast journalist in the NYC/NJ area for over a decade. Some of the stations I have worked with include Bloomberg News Radio, Sirius Satellite Radio, Fox News Rad... View profile
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15 Comments
Post a CommentWow - you started a firestorm with this very informative piece!
What if that statement is not a rumor? I can understand why they would take advantage of the 99ers situation for information to use against the U.S.. As a concerned citizen this could be a matter of national security. If the U.S. Gov wont take care of its own people. Maybe someone should report this matter to Fox News or something.
It is very strange how Americans lable people from other countries"terrorists"but do not lable themselves the same.I am American and would never do a thing against our country but I also know as well as speak the truth.Do not call Bin Ladin a terrorist unless you call president Bush and his flunkies terrorists along with the American military.How many innocent people have we murdered in Iraq and Afghanistan?Dont try to tell me all the civilians in those countries hated America before America invaded them because thats bull.America destroyed 2 countries and killed hundreds of thousands of people because of 9/11?The American government was behind the 9/11 attacks and they used Saddam as a scapegoat.You people really need to open your eyes and your minds to what is going on and what has already occurred.One of the biggest problems with this country is the American people allow the government to brainwash the majority of them and lead them around like sheep.The american governmen
Most of us search extremely hard, go on those interviews, fill out everything possible and still nothing. It all matters where you live I think. Around Eastern Mass near Boston there is so much people applying for the same jobs. It is so hard and I am not a quitter, but its getting me depressed. Please help us 99ers get thru some more time so we can help ourselves like we want to.
Bin Ladin is a terrorist?It seems the only terrorist is the American government who is not giving a million plus Americans the unemployment they need inorder to eat and not be homeless.Open your eyes and see who the true terrorists are.If you want to see them go to Washington and visit the congress,the senate and the white house thats where the real terrorists are.
If bin is paying 99ers how do I contact him I need some cash?
It seems their are rumors that in Laden and other terrorist groups are starting to offer help to 99ers in excahange for info?? Internet rumors??
The jobless rate is down to 9.0 percent, a huge step in the right direction for the economy. We hope that new hiring includes older workers, who have been unemployed at higher rates and for longer periods of time during the Great Recession than ever before.
Since February of 2010, we have been conducting video interviews with Americans who are Over 50 and Out of Work. http://www.overfiftyandoutofwork.com/
Most of them do not have enough savings to maintain their standard of living during retirement. If they can get back to work as the economy rebounds, they will be better off, as will the overall economy.
If older workers can continue to work and defer claiming Social Security benefits until they reach the age of full eligibility or beyond, they will increase their future monthly payments and make maintaining their standard of living over their lifetimes more likely.
By working several extra years, older Americans also reduce the financial pressures on Social Securit
The jobless rate is down to 9.0 percent, a huge step in the right direction for the economy. We hope that new hiring includes older workers, who have been unemployed at higher rates and for longer periods of time during the Great Recession than ever before.
Since February of 2010, we have been conducting video interviews with Americans who are Over 50 and Out of Work. http://www.overfiftyandoutofwork.com/
Most of them do not have enough savings to maintain their standard of living during retirement. If they can get back to work as the economy rebounds, they will be better off, as will the overall economy.
If older workers can continue to work and defer claiming Social Security benefits until they reach the age of full eligibility or beyond, they will increase their future monthly payments and make maintaining their standard of living over their lifetimes more likely.
By working several extra years, older Americans also reduce the financial pressures on Social Securit
You can always join the military.