Home Current News Berkley Calls for Quick House Action on Unemployment Extension
Berkley Calls for Quick House Action on Unemployment Extension
(November 4, 2009)  Congresswoman Shelley Berkley called for swift  passage of legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives that will extend unemployment benefits an additional 20 weeks in order to help jobless Nevada residents.  The bill is being sent back to the House for approval following passage in the U.S. Senate.

“These payments allow Valley families to keep food on the table and to pay rent while they continue to search for work and this package will make sure these vital benefits are there for another 20 weeks,” said Berkley.  “This is a helping hand for our friends, neighbors and loved ones who are still struggling to find work in Las Vegas and other parts of Nevada and we need to act now to make sure they do not lose their benefits before the end of the year.”

Without Congressional action, hundreds of thousands of workers will run out of unemployment benefits before year’s end.  The legislation extends benefits at no cost to Nevada or other states covered under the bill.

Berkley spoke in September about the importance of these benefits to the jobless in Las Vegas and around the Silver State.

“The once recession-proof economy of my district of Las Vegas has not been spared from the effects of this downturn.  In fact, Nevada has been hit harder than any other state by the foreclosure crisis and our unemployment rate has skyrocketed to 13.2% -- the second highest in the nation.  This legislation will bring much needed relief to many jobless Nevadans,” said Berkley in her floor statement.

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