Extended Benefits approval a good first step
Posted January 24, 2012 in Press Releases
“Congress should extend federal benefits to help struggling families, but also to help Ohio emerge from the weak economy more quickly." Zach Schiller, research directorFor immediate releaseContact Zach Schiller at 216.361.9801Download statement
Now Congress must act to extend emergency jobless benefits
Today, the Ohio House voted to extend unemployment benefits (HB 337) for some 20,000 Ohioans through a joint federal-state program that had been slated to end January 28 in Ohio. Earlier this month, the Ohio Senate approved the extension. Ohio Gov. John Kasich is expected to sign the bill into law.
“Extending these benefits for unemployed Ohioans is an important, common-sense move that brings already available federal funds to Ohio,” said Zach Schiller, Policy Matters research director and author of an earlier release calling for the extension. (See policymattersohio.org/extended-benefits-jan2012.)
But action is still needed at the federal level so that U.S. support for longer-term unemployment benefits continues. In addition to the Extended Benefits program, this includes another initiative, the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program, which covers 80,000 Ohioans and last year brought more than $1.38 billion to the state.
“Congress should extend support for long-term jobless,” said Schiller. “Not only would it help struggling Ohio families, it would provide a significant boost to the state’s economy.”
###