| Congressman Dale E. Kildee (D-MI) reported today that the number of Michigan workers that exhausted unemployment benefits rose by 88% as a result of the September 11th terrorist attacks. Kildee is encouraging the House Leadership to work quickly to provide immediate relief to nearly a million unemployed American workers.
“We cannot afford to ignore the financial crisis facing thousands of laid-off American workers,” said Kildee. “While multi-billion dollar corporations received federal assistance, thousands of unemployed American workers were left behind. It is time to provide immediate assistance and relief to those hard-working Americans that have contributed to the economy of our nation.”
Prior to the events of September 11th, the struggling economy and alarming unemployment rates had already created an unemployment insurance crisis across the country. However, the unemployment insurance crisis was exacerbated by the tragic events of September 11th. Over 735,000 American workers have exhausted unemployment benefits in the past three months. The state of Michigan ranks 6th in the country among those states with the most dire unemployment insurance situation.
In response to constituent concerns, Congressman Kildee has cosponsored two pieces of legislation that would provide relief to thousands of unemployed Michigan workers and their families. Kildee is a cosponsor of the COBRA Coverage Act of 2001 (H.R. 3040), which would provide laid-off workers with a 50% tax credit toward the cost of extended medical health insurance. Kildee also cosponsored the Putting Americans First Act (H.R. 3341), which would empower the states to expand unemployment compensation and health insurance coverage by providing federal assistance. | 
![[News from Congressman Dale Kildee]](letterhead.gif)