Wexler Votes to Extend Unemployment Benefits for Jobless Americans
House Passes Emergency Extension of Unemployment Compensation

(Washington, DC) Today, Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL) lauded the House of Representatives for passing an emergency extension of unemployment benefits in response to the devastating condition of the US economy. For the past five months, the country has lost jobs, and in May alone the unemployment rate had its largest one-month increase in over twenty years.

"Florida has the third highest unemployment rate in the country, and the fact that unemployment has surged for five straight months is yet another sign that President Bush's economic policies have failed our middle class," said Congressman Wexler. "In addition to facing higher costs for food and gas, the rising unemployment rate is putting even more Americans at risk of losing their homes and their health insurance.  This emergency extension of unemployment benefits is a simple and straightforward way to help struggling American families. It is shameful that Republicans in Congress are spending so much time opposing this and other economic stimulus measures instead of saving millions of Americans from financial disaster."

H.R. 5749, the Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation Act, provides up to thirteen weeks of additional unemployment benefits to workers who have exhausted the standard twenty-six weeks and have been unable to secure new jobs.  The legislation passed by a vote of 274 to 137.

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Congressman Wexler is Chairman of the Europe Subcommittee and a senior member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the House Judiciary Committee; and he also sits on the Financial Services Committee.

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