Blog
February 17, 2012
Congress Renews Unemployment Insurance, But Reduces Benefit Durations Over Remainder of 2012
Overcoming efforts to dismantle federal unemployment insurance and undermine the basic UI system, Congress today approved a compromise payroll tax rate extension that also averts a threatened March 1st expiration of federal jobless benefits. Under the plan, the federal unemployment insurance program for long-term unemployed job-seekers who exhaust regular state benefits is continued, while maximum durations of benefits are reduced in stages over the remainder of 2012. read more »
February 10, 2012
‘Walk In My Shoes’ Day of Action: Congress Must Act to Support Jobless Americans
USAction, the National Employment Law Project and the AFL-CIO have announced a national day of action for Friday, February 10th, in support of the millions of Americans who face an end-of-month cut-off of federal unemployment insurance and stark new barriers to the program if highly restrictive proposals in Congress are allowed to pass. Find an action or participate online.read more »
January 27, 2012
Effort to Dismantle Unemployment Insurance Revived in Congress as Conference Committee Convenes
Having narrowly averted cutting off unemployment insurance to millions of Americans right before the holidays, Congress now returns to take up what should be a relatively simple task even for this Congress -- a full reauthorization of federal unemployment insurance, the payroll tax reduction and other provisions through 2012. But, as they did in December, some lawmakers are looking to revive House efforts to slash federal benefits, impose harsh new restrictions and move to dismantle the essential lifeline of unemployment insurance.read more »
December 23, 2011
Congress Passes Two-Month Renewal of Unemployment Insurance
House leaders, acceding to mounting public outcry over their apparent willingness to cut off unemployment benefits to millions of unemployed job-seekers during the holiday season, agreed late Thursday to accept a compromise two-month extension. The bill passed the House and Senate early today and was promptly signed by President Obama. Along with continuing current provisions of federal unemployment insurance, the measure extends last year's payroll tax reduction, TANF aid for needy families and medical reimbursement rates for physicians serving Medicare patients. House and Senate leaders in both parties are appointing members to a conference committee, which will be tasked with reaching a year-long extension measure when they return after the holidays.read more »
December 22, 2011
Voices of Unemployed Americans: David (VIDEO)
The House of Representatives continues its obstruction of even a temporary extension of federal unemployment insurance, risking the expiration of the benefit programs for millions of long-term jobless workers December 31st. Watch this 2-minute video, then call your Members of Congress.read more »
December 20, 2011
NELP Calls for Up-or-Down House Vote on Senate Bill to Extend Unemployment Insurance
UPDATE: TUESDAY, DEC. 20 -- The National Employment Law Project (NELP) calls on the House of Representatives to hold a straight up-or-down vote on the Senate bill that extends federal unemployment insurance (UI) programs, along with the payroll tax holiday and “doc fix,” for the next two months. The Senate Leadership negotiated a bi-partisan compromise, with the involvement and blessing of the Speaker of the House. This compromise rebuffed attempts to scapegoat the unemployed and enact dangerous changes to the basic UI program which undermined its very purpose and effectiveness. While a two-month deal is not ideal, time is running out to protect the unemployed from being victims of the worst partisan games Congress has ever seen.read more »
