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Bonamici Applauds Senate Passage of Emergency Unemployment Extension; Calls for House Vote

April 7, 2014

Washington, D.C. – Following the Senate approval of a bill to extend emergency unemployment insurance, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici urged her House colleagues to act quickly to pass the legislation.

“For many long-term unemployed, this program is their lifeline. It is the difference between a roof over their head and life on the street,” Bonamici said. “I urge Speaker Boehner to allow an up or down vote on this legislation right away so we can restore stability to the lives of millions of Americans.”

The Senate-approved measure is a five-month extension that would renew unemployment insurance and retroactively reimburse the more than two million Americans who lost their benefits last December.

“I am committed to building the economy and I’m eager to work with my colleagues on potential solutions to help our constituents get back to work. Until then, however, we have an obligation to provide the long-term unemployed with the basic resources as they continue searching for work,” Bonamici said.

Since December, more than 43,000 Oregonians have lost their emergency unemployment insurance. Bonamici recently signed a letter calling on federal housing officials to impose a six-month forbearance on foreclosures of federally-backed mortgages for borrowers who have exhausted their unemployment because of congressional inaction. Bonamici spoke out on the House floor last month about one of her constituents facing default after losing his unemployment insurance.

“Without these crucial benefits we are forcing millions of Americans into poverty,” Bonamici said. “Let’s not waste any more time holding them back. Let’s vote now to restore this lifeline and help thousands get back to work.”

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