Capitol Hill Reports - Momentum Builds in Senate to Extend Unemployment Benefits to All States

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Momentum Builds in Senate to Extend Unemployment Benefits to All States
Thursday, October 1, 2009
6:45 PM

Momentum is building in the Senate to extend unemployment benefits to all 50 states in lieu of a House-passed bill that provides an extension to only 27 states experiencing exceptionally high unemployment rates. The House approved its proposal last week, clearing the measure for Senate action. As currently drafted, the House bill would provide an extension of benefits to only those states where the unemployment rate is a three-month average of at least 8.5 percent, or a 13-week unemployment rate above 6 percent.

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The 23 states that would not qualify for an extension under the House bill are: Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and Wyoming.

According to House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer's (D-MD) office, 300,000 jobless workers were expected to run out of unemployment compensation by the end of September.

Sixteen senators have signed a letter to Democratic and Republican leaders urging them to extend unemployment benefits to every state.

"The challenges faced by unemployed workers in these excluded states are equally severe and we strongly urge the Senate Finance Committee to craft legislation that extends unemployment benefits equitably, to all workers, regardless of their state," the letter states.

If enough momentum builds, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) could decide to either amend the House-passed bill or bring up a new Senate bill. If the latter scenario plays out, a bill introduced by Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) in August would likely be on the short list. Reed's "Assistance for Unemployed Workers Extension Act" (S.1647) would extend several current-law unemployment compensation programs through 2010, and provide an additional 13 weeks of unemployment insurance for workers who have exhausted benefits across all 50 states.