4/15/2010- Sires Votes to Extend Unemployment Benefits
For Immediate Release Contact: Erica Daughtrey
April 16, 2010 201-222-2828
Washington, D.C. -- On April 15, 2010, Congressman Sires proudly joined his colleagues in swiftly passing legislation by a vote of 289 to 112 to extend unemployment benefits and other programs. This legislation went directly to President Obama for his signature and will provide retroactive relief.
Congress has passed a series of unemployment extensions, the most recent of which, H.R. 4851, the Continuing Extension Act of 2010, was passed unanimously by the House of Representatives on March 17, 2010. This legislation was then immediately sent to the Senate. Earlier today, the Senate passed an amended version of H.R. 4851 and the House moved quickly to a vote. This legislation will restore federal unemployment benefits to those who lost their benefits on April 5, 2010 and extend benefits through June 2, 2010.
“I am proud that the House of Representatives acted immediately to vote on the Senate’s changes to the House bill to extend unemployment,” said Congressman Sires. “This extension is long overdue and I am hopeful that we will begin work immediately towards a long-term extension.”
H.R. 4851 will also extend COBRA health insurance subsidies for the unemployed, ensure higher payments for physicians who treat Medicare patients, extend satellite TV transmission laws and extend the national flood insurance program through the end of May. The measure will also provide important retroactive relief by giving backpay to workers who were furloughed due to a lapse of the Highway Trust Fund.
“These delay tactics caused 212,000 people to have their unemployment benefits severed,” said Sires. “Congress must work together in a bi-partisan and bi-cameral way to ensure that our constituents who are facing financial hardship continue to receive much needed unemployment benefits.”
###