President Obama Signs Unemployment Benefits Extension for 2.5 Million Americans
President Obama signed the unemployment benefits extension into law tonight, delivering badly-needed help for Americans who have lost their job in the recession.
Today’s good news comes after weeks of obstruction by Republicans, who decided to put political game playing ahead of doing the right thing to help those in need. President Obama had called on the GOP to put these folks before partisan tactics, and last night the Senate finally overcame the Republican filibuster.
Upon signing the bill the President also called on Congress to take action and pass aid to states and support for small businesses:
"Today, I signed the unemployment insurance extension to restore desperately needed assistance to two and a half million Americans who lost their jobs in the recession. After a partisan minority used procedural tactics to block the authorization of this assistance three separate times over the past weeks, Americans who are fighting to find a good job and support their families will finally get the support they need to get back on their feet during these tough economic times. Now it’s time for Congress to act on more proposals that support our economic recovery, including passing critical aid to our states and support to small businesses. Small businesses are the engine of job growth, and measures to cut their taxes and make lending available should not be held hostage to partisan tactics like those that unconscionably held up unemployment insurance."
Today's benefits extension brings relief to folks who had gone without assistance for up to seven weeks, who could begin receiving retroactive assistance as early as next week.