Rep. McDermott Hosts Staff Briefing on Unemployment Crisis
Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wa) will host a briefing on Friday, November 14 at 12:30 pm for other members of Congress and their staffs. This briefing will highlight two proposals that offer the greatest hope for simultaneously boosting the economy, assisting state governments, and helping many of the more than 10 million unemployed workers in our labor market today.
Speakers will include Maurice Emsellem, Policy Director at the National Employment Law Project; Laura Fortman, Maine Labor Commissioner; Kelly Ross of the AFL-CIO; and Lisa Donner, Executive Director of Half in Ten.
The briefing will provide details on the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2008 (HR 6867) and the Unemployment Insurance Modernization Act (HR 2233). HR 6867 would enhance the already enacted Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 2008 by providing an additional 7 weeks of Federally-funded extended unemployment benefits in every State, plus an additional 13 weeks in high unemployment States. HR 2233, passed as part of the Trade and Globalization Assistance Act (HR 3920), would provide disbursements to States to improve their administration of UI, with additional funding for States who remove or have already removed certain barriers for part-time, low-wage, and women workers.
