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12/19/2003 Entry: "Feingold Calls on Senate to Pass Unemployment Insurance Extension"

Legislation Signed Last May Extending Unemployment Insurance Set to Expire During the Holidays

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) is pressing the Senate leadership to schedule time to take up and pass unemployment insurance extension legislation when the Senate reconvenes in January 2004. In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) and Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD), Feingold points out that due to the expiration of unemployment benefits on December 31st, many Americans will lose this critical support at the end of this holiday season.

"The unemployment extension legislation that was signed into law by the President on May 28, 2003, will expire on December 31, 2003, leaving many Americans to start the new year with little in the way of resources, including health care coverage, for themselves and their families," Feingold said in the letter. "It is crucial that the Senate and House consider - and that the President sign into law - legislation to extend unemployment compensation benefits for long-term unemployed Americans as soon as possible."

Just this week, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) reported that there are 2.4 million fewer jobs than when the economic downturn began. In addition, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in November there were 8.7 million people out of work and an unemployment rate of 5.9 percent. Two million unemployed workers have been looking for jobs for more than six months.

"As the holidays approach, it is disturbing to think of all of the families in my home state of Wisconsin and all over the country that will begin the new year without unemployment insurance," Feingold said. "Congress needs to make sure that these long-term unemployed workers have this crucial safety net as they continue their search for jobs."

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