The Hill News

It is good news to learn that our national unemployment rate is down to 9%. The Obama administration and Congress have been able to prevent a recession and put a band aid on our economic troubles. But the reality is that there is much more we can do to create jobs and grow the economy. To that end, Congress should spend more time helping those who need it most - our long-term unemployed workers.  

For example, in California, the unemployment rate is 12.5%, among the highest in the entire country, and unfortunately the Federal Reserve estimates indicate that by 2012, the national unemployment rate is likely to remain high at 8%. If we are serious about achieving a true economic recovery, we need to act quickly to support the unemployed as they fight to get back on their feet.  

That's why we have introduced legislation that will provide much-needed benefits to long-term unemployed workers. Our bill extends unemployment compensation that would give a! n additional 14 weeks of benefits to the existing Tier I of the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program, the temporary federal program first created in 2008 as a response to the most recent recession.

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