Unemployment

November 4, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – Sens. Tom Carper and Ted Kaufman (both D-Del.) today voted to extend federal unemployment insurance for up to 14 additional weeks for the state’s jobless, noting additional benefits are needed in Delaware where unemployment stands at more than eight percent. Late today, the Senate passed the Workers, Home Owners, Business Assistance Act (H.R. 3548) by a vote of 98 to 0.    » read more »

November 4, 2009 -- Washington, DC -- U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) announced his support of the unemployment insurance extension, recognizing the challenging economic climate and the increased difficulty hardworking people are facing when trying to find another job. The bill passed this evening. Johnson released the following statement:    » read more »

November 4, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kay R. Hagan (D-NC) released the following statement after the Senate passed the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009. The bill, which passed the Senate by a 98-0 vote, extends unemployment insurance benefits for up to 20 weeks for states like North Carolina that have been hit the hardest by the economic downturn.    » read more »

Proposal Will Keep More Unemployed Minnesotans Insuread

Washington, D.C. [Nov 5, 2009] – Today, U.S. Senator Al Franken (D-Minn.) joined his colleagues Senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.) to support the COBRA Subsidy Extension and Enhancement Act (S.2730).

COBRA allows jobless workers to keep their health care as they look for new employment. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that seven million workers and their dependents will use the COBRA subsidies in 2009. Tens of thousands of Minnesota families won’t be able to stay insured without this extension. This act addresses the short-term crisis facing so many families by extending the COBRA subsidy another six months through June 30, 2010.    » read more »

Bill Would Extend and Expand COBRA Subsidy Included in Recovery Act; Subsidy Set to Expire on December 1 without Legislative Action

November 5, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced a bill today to extend the “COBRA” subsidy which helps unemployed workers and their families afford temporary health care coverage. Many Families will lose this temporary assistance which will begin to expire on Dec. 1, 2009, if Congress fails to act. The bill is also cosponsored by Sen. Al Franken (D-MN).    » read more »

Casey’s homebuyer tax credit fraud prevention provisions included

November 4, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC- U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today applauded Senate passage of legislation to extend unemployment insurance for laid-off workers who have exhausted their benefits, to expand and extend the homebuyer tax credit and provide relief to businesses with operating losses. The legislation must now be reconciled with the House before being sent to the president.    » read more »

November 4, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – Sens. Tom Carper and Ted Kaufman (both D-Del.) today voted to extend federal unemployment insurance for up to 14 additional weeks for the state’s jobless, noting additional benefits are needed in Delaware where unemployment stands at more than eight percent.

Late today, the Senate passed the Workers, Home Owners, Business Assistance Act (H.R. 3548) by a vote of 98 to 0.    » read more »

Bill Would Provide Extra Unemployment Assistance for Workers in States like Ohio and Would Expand Homebuyer Tax Credit

November 4, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced Senate passage this evening of a bill that would provide for an extension of emergency benefits to unemployed workers and expand the homebuyer tax credit. Brown is a cosponsor of the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009, which would extend unemployment insurance by 14 weeks (with an additional six weeks for workers in high unemployment states like Ohio) and expand the first-time homebuyer tax credit to include existing homeowners who have not moved for five years or more.    » read more »

November 4, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) praised the Senate’s passage of legislation to extend unemployment insurance for nearly 2 million Americans who would have otherwise lost their benefits by the end of the year. The bill will extend benefits by 14 weeks for jobless workers across the entire country and by 20 weeks in states with unemployment rates higher than 8.5 percent, including California.    » read more »

November 4, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today said he is pleased the Senate has approved legislation to extend unemployment benefits to thousands of New Mexicans who have been unable to find a job in this difficult economic climate.

The bill would extend unemployment insurance by up to 14 additional weeks for jobless workers in all states and up to 20 weeks in hard-hit states with unemployment levels at or above 8.5 percent. New Mexico's unemployment rate as of September was 7.7 percent, up from 4.3 percent a year ago.    » read more »

14,000 Jobless Coloradans Expected to Lose Unemployment Benefits by Year's End

November 4, 2009 -- Following a push to ensure that the Senate's extension of unemployment benefits includes Coloradans, Michael Bennet and Mark Udall, U.S. Senators for Colorado, today announced Senate passage of the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009. The legislation, which they cosponsored, would provide relief to jobless workers by extending unemployment insurance for the nearly 14,000 jobless Coloradans who will exhaust their benefits by year's end. It also extends the homebuyer tax credit and provides important tax relief for Colorado families and small businesses.

The legislation is fully offset.    » read more »

Legislation also expands business tax credits, extends unemployment benefits

November 5, 2009 -- In an effort to help recharge Alaska's economy and hundreds of small businesses, U.S. Senator Mark Begich today supported legislation to extend the first-time homebuyer tax credit, and the expansion of a program allowing businesses to relieve their tax burden.

The Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act passed the Senate by a vote of
98 to 0. The Act, co-sponsored by Sen. Begich, continues the $8,000 first-time homebuyer credit through April 30, 2010, allowing purchasers with a valid contract an additional 60 days to close after that date. It also provides a $6,500 credit to new purchasers who have lived in their current residence for five years or more.    » read more »

Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act Passes Senate

November 4, 2009 -- (Washington, D.C.) – Montana’s senior U.S. Senator Max Baucus today applauded the Senate for passing his bill to extend the $8,000 tax credit to more of Montana’s first time homebuyers.

The bill also includes tax help for Montana’s military families who must sell their homes because of a reassignment. Both measures were added to the unemployment extension bill that passed the U.S. Senate tonight.    » read more »

Nov. 5, 2009 -- (Salem) - “Today Congress stood by those hit hardest by the recession, including the 12,000 Oregonians who would otherwise be out of benefits come January. It is a much-needed addition to the extension of state benefits that took effect last month.

“For these Oregonians, the continued benefit brings some peace of mind and can mean the difference between keeping a home and putting food on the table.

“As Governor my focus remains on ensuring Oregon is well-positioned for the long term and working across public and private sector lines to accelerate a recovery that generates jobs and puts people back to work.”

Source: Oregon Governor

November 5, 2009 -- TRENTON - New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine today issued the following statement regarding the Congressional vote to approve the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2009 which extends unemployment benefits for an additional 14 weeks in every state and by 20 weeks in states with unemployment rates of 8.5 percent or higher. The Governor recently sent a letter to the Congress urging extension of unemployment benefits for those who have or are about to exhaust their unemployment assistance:    » read more »