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Federal Jobless Aid Restored Through May

Congress passed and President Obama signed an emergency restoration of extended unemployment and COBRA subsidy programs late yesterday. The bill continues federal jobless benefits through the end of May and provides for payments retroactive to April 5. As a result, unemployment checks will continue to go out to those long-term unemployed who had exhausted their 26-week state benefits, and to those whose eligibility for the next level of extensions had ended in the last ten days.

The measure was needed to restore funding and access to the programs, which had expired when the Senate failed to overcome the Republican obstruction led by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) prior to the Congressional recess, which began March 26.

It also gives House and Senate Democratic leaders time to reconcile the revenue sources needed to fund several budget-related components in the larger, full-year extension bills passed earlier.

The measure also restores federal flood insurance programs and back pay for federal transportation workers. It does not create additional unemployment extensions beyond EUC Tiers I through IV and the existing Extended Benefits programs.

Four weeks after first taking up the short-term emergency extension, the Senate late yesterday overcame another Republican filibuster and then voted to approve the bill by a vote of 58 to 39. Fifty-five Democrats voted in favor of the measure, and they were joined by three Republicans — Senators Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe from Maine, and retiring Senator George Voinovich of Ohio. Three Democratic Senators, whose votes were not needed to reach the majority required, were reportedly engaged in committee discussions and did not vote.

When the Senate vote was recorded the bill was sent to the House, which immediately scheduled its vote. Two hours later the House approved the Senate bill by a vote of 289 to 112, with 49 Republicans joining 240 Democrats voting in favor of the measure. Thirty members, whose votes were not needed for a majority to be reached, were not present for the vote. All Democrats present voted for the bill with the single exception of Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-5).

The New York Times has a graphical breakdown of the House vote, as well as a very useful interactive map of the vote by Congressional district.

President Obama signed the short-term extension bill late last night, and the White House released this statement:

Statement by the President on Passage of Temporary Extension of Jobless Benefits

“In these tough economic times, it is more critical than ever to bring relief to Americans who are working every day to find a job, and families that are struggling to make ends meet. Millions of Americans who lost their jobs in this economic crisis depend on unemployment and health insurance benefits to get by as they look for work and get themselves back on their feet. I’m grateful that the House and Senate moved forward on this temporary extension today. But as I requested in my budget, I urge Congress to move quickly to extend these benefits through the end of this year. I also urge Congress to move forward on legislation to help small businesses grow and hire and other measures to increase the pace of job growth. This is my top priority, and I will fight day and night until every American who wants a good job has one.”

Tags: COBRA, jobless benefit extension, unemployment