Help could soon be on the way for hundreds of thousands of jobless Americans who still need unemployment benefits.
Those benefits will continue to come if members of Congress can agree on what citizens must do to receive them and how much longer they should be given.
On Tuesday a bill extending unemployment benefits was presented in the U.S. Senate by Democratic leaders for a quick vote. However, Senate Republican leaders blocked the measure, denying the unanimous support required to fast track the bill.
“It’s unfortunate that the Senate was stopped from even considering a bill to give a little more help to hurting folks all across this country,” said an angry Sen. Max Baucus, D — Mont.
The bill would have extended the average $300-a-week benefit check by 13 weeks for all unemployed people who exhaust their regular 26 weeks of benefits.
In addition, the legislation would waive the regular requirement of 20 weeks of work and replace it with a two-week work requirement.
Senate Democratic leaders said the bill is a “common-sense” way to help working families in tough economic times. Republican leaders, however, said an extension of benefits would be too costly, objected to a proposed change in the work requirement and stated that an extension is unnecessary when some states still have low levels of unemployment.
“We would like to have the full Senate weigh in and make sure that if this is done, it is done in the right way,” said Republican Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona.
Although the Republican blockade temporarily killed the bill, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat from Nevada, plans to give it another shot at passage by having it attached to another bill that will provide funds for the war in Iraq. Reid has argued that more urgency is needed to help struggling families before Congress begins its recess on July 4.
The U.S. Senate began considering the bill after a bipartisan majority in the U.S. House approved it last week. Both chambers of Congress must approve the legislation before it is given to President Bush for his signature.
The White House has threatened to veto a bill extending unemployment benefits, but might be less likely to do so if the benefits package is attached to a bill funding the war. Also, if the bill is taken up by the full Senate that chamber can pass it with enough votes to override a possible veto.
Rep. Andre Carson, D-Ind., who supported the bill in the House, believes it is the right thing for the government to do and is glad Reid plans to bring it back in the Senate.
“With unemployment rising, gas prices soaring, and food prices climbing to all-time highs, it is imperative that this new direction Congress continues to do all it can to help hardworking Americans struggling to find work and provide for their dependent loved ones,” said Carson.
Local community agencies that serve families in need and faith-based organizations providing assistance to the needy are looking forward to the extended benefits as a way to help ease the burden of their limited resources.
“It will definitely be helpful to people who have been searching for work and don’t know how to help their families,” said Christopher Mabrey, intake specialist for JEWEL Human Services, a non-profit organization affiliated with Eastern Star Church.
JEWEL Human Services offers assistance to families in need by providing access to a large food pantry, emergency funds to pay utility bills, housing counseling and clothing distribution.
“We have many hardworking people who have come to us for assistance and never thought they would need to ask for help with keeping food on the table or keeping their lights on,” added Mabrey. “With the state of our economy, rising food prices and the cost of gas soaring everyday, people need these benefits in order to maintain their daily lives.”
