Senator Chuck Schumer Working on Bill to Create Tier V Unemployment Benefits
"There are a number of people who have maxed out, they've been looking and looking for work and haven't found it, and there is a separate act that would extend the unemployment benefits to them... Extending this was really important. There are some people who go beyond the 99 weeks and we're going to try to do that next."
To clarify this statement, I called Senator Schumer's office in New York City and specifically asked if the Senator was working on a bill to create a Tier V of unemployment benefits. I was told that Senator Schumer is indeed working on this, but it was not clear when this bill would be completed and introduced to the Senator for debate. Nevertheless, this is welcomed positive news for any long term unemployed American who has, or is about to exhaust, his/her benefits.
What is Tier V and why do the unemployed need it?
In response to the struggling economy, the federal government created an jobless benefits extension program call Emergency Unemployment Compensations or EUC. EUC provided up to 53 weeks of additional unemployment benefits through four successive levels or Tiers. However, with the economy still lagging, jobs still scarce, and unemployment still holding at over 9%, many unemployed exhausted these EUC benefits as well as any additional Extended Benefits that may have been provided by their states. These unemployed people have been nicknamed '99er's' for the amount of weeks they have collected jobless benefits and are still without work. And these 99er's have been diligent in writing and calling their lawmakers to demand a Tier V of unemployment benefits. It appears their persistence is beginning to pay off.
Any more information on the Tier V bill?
It is still too soon to tell how much assistance would be provided by a Tier V legislation or when Schumer will officially be able to introduce his Tier V bill (hopefully before the month long Congressional recess beginning August 6th.) In fact, it's not certain if any other members of the Senate will support Schumer's bill. Mike White, a 99er from California and founder of Unemployed Workers Action Group, had this to say:
"I know that Senator Schumer is going to introduce a bill for the 99ers but I keep hearing that no one is supporting it and I fear it will fall through.... All Senator Schumer needs is for the other Senators to look deep into their hearts, see the suffering that is spreading among 99ers, and vote their conscience instead of playing politics with people's lives."
It remains to be seen what will become of this future legislation.
Sources:
Arthur Delany Tier 5: Schumer Promises Legislation To Help The 99ers Huffington Post, July 28, 2010
Jennifer Budd As the Jobless Rate in America Remains High, the Unemployed Demand a Fifth Extension of Unemployment Benefits Associated Content, May 7, 2010
Email correspondence with Mike White, July 28, 2010
Call to Senator Chuck Schumer's NYC Office July 28, 2010
Published by Jennifer Budd GN, CNA - Featured Contributor in Health & Wellness
I am a graduate nurse and certified nurse aide with an ADN from Essex County College in New Jersey. I am taking my license exam in March 2012. Prior to this career change, I was a radio broadcast journa... View profile
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9 Comments
Post a CommentWe need lower taxes and an end to the Democrat policies that are KILLING this economy (on purpose), killing jobs, sending jobs overseas, and creating a huge underclass of unemployed sucking on the government teat. Democrats left to their own devices will create 50% unemployment. If you kill the private sector which they want to do, who will you tax to fund government, including unemployment benefits? We need Americans WORKING, not collecting unemployment.
Democrats are driving this country over the cliff, as planned. We start the U-turn November 2nd!
Incidentally, I was a lefty Democrat for 26 long years. Your tired, old Marxist epithets don't work on me - I've been there done that. Lefties are liars, haters and destroyers.
It is shame that americans are so caught up in republicans that they beleive that they are really working for you. If you do not wake up and let the democrats fail by moving Bills you can not make them fail by voting NO all the time! If you want someone to fail you make it look like you want to work with them and if they make wrong decision and it impacts America then the American people will do something about it. But just getting millions of dollars, large vactions being a career politician and saying No on most bills, We do not need you Period! It has gone on for years and years it is not worth fighting over people who beleive Republicans are for the poor or if there is some middle class these days. Go ahead and vote republican you are just putting a nail in your own coffin along with america! It is time for a majority house and senate both in order to get something to move in Washington! Nothing has got done due to political grid lock from republicans. It is joke americans continu
It is sad that the politicians who encumber the economy with taxes as well as taxation that discourages investment are the same one who present themselves as heroes who stand up for the victims of a poor economy. Kind of like a doctor who breaks your leg and then promises to make it better with a 3 year splint.
Just popping in to say Hi - have a great day :) great job on this!
Nice job with this article.
good work, Jenn
Good article, Jennifer!
This is called political cover.By bringing up an unprepared bill before recess guarantees failure.They will however be able to duck the question of extended benefits all of summer break by saying "they tried".This is the same kind of crap the demo's used by waiting until the day before recesses before bringing up things they KNOW will be opposed.This tactic is getting old.If you have a bill get cosponsors and get behind it as a party BEFORE you bring it to the floor. In this way you can engage the public and garner more support. But that is if you expect it to pass. VOTE OUT ALL INCUMBANTS IN NOVEMBER. time to start over again.
Going right to the source is great! We need to hold our elected officials accountable and that includes them answering our calls when we ask what they're doing for us.