WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) voted again Wednesday to renew support for jobseekers, this time through compromise legislation to reauthorize emergency unemployment insurance (UI) for five months. The Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act, the product of bipartisan negotiations between ten senators, cleared a procedural hurdle by a vote of 61-38, clearing the way for a vote on final passage later this week.
“Congress must invest in America’s workforce, and extending this lifeline for jobseekers is the minimum we should be doing,” Senator Coons said. “For three months, millions of Americans – out of work through no fault of their own – have struggled to make ends meet while Congress put politics before their welfare. This legislation will help them regain their footing, while implementing reforms that will prevent abuse and help jobseekers get back to work faster. Emergency unemployment insurance is a critical part of our social safety net, and I hope my colleagues will join me in renewing it without further delay.”
The Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act is fully paid for, prohibits millionaires from receiving unemployment benefits, and includes reforms to help UI beneficiaries find work faster. The bill allows for retroactive payments to eligible beneficiaries dating back to December 28, meaning the five-month extension will expire at the end of May.
Since Congress let emergency unemployment insurance expire at the end of December, more than 2 million Americans – including 6,000 Delawareans – have lost their unemployment insurance. Senator Coons was a cosponsor of legislation, blocked by Republican filibusters in January and February, which would have extended funding for UI benefits for three months, as well as a bill to extend benefits for one year.