US | Unemployment Insurance | House Democrats push for extension

House Democrats are beginning their push for an extension of expanded federal unemployment benefits before more than 2.1 million workers lose them at year’s end.

Ways and Means panel ranking member Sandy Levin (D-Mich.) and Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) released a committee report on Monday arguing for quick action to extend benefits before they expire Dec. 29.

“We cannot forget the human cliff looming for more than two million Americans scheduled to lose their economic lifeline during the upcoming holidays,” Levin said.

“Failing to act would push millions of middle class Americans into poverty and impede our economic recovery.”

Without action, people who have been unemployed for longer than six months but less than 73 weeks would no longer have access to federal benefits. An agreement forged in February that provides for the expanded benefits expires right after Christmas.

The analysis released by Ways and Means found that about five million Americans have been out of work for six months or longer and would lose the federal benefits if they weren’t extended. A loss of federal benefits would leave only state-level programs for those workers…

Choosen excerpts by JMM from

via House Democrats push for extension of jobless benefits – The Hill’s On The Money.