Washington, DC - Congressman Ed Towns (D-Brooklyn) helped approve a bill to extend federal unemployment benefits to 157,093 workers in the state of New York and millions more across the country who would otherwise receive no additional aid.  The measure passed in the House of Representatives by a vote of 227-179.

"This extension is critical given that there are nearly 600,000 New Yorkers who are now unemployed and it is taking longer and longer for them to find work," said Towns.  "For months Republicans have claimed that the economy was strong, and an extension of benefits was not needed.  Unfortunately, those still struggling to find a job do not agree."

Towns, along with other House Democrats, have pushed for months to bring this issue to a vote. The federal unemployment program expired at the end of last year, denying assistance to thousands of people nationwide each week since December 21 and leaving those out of work, who ran out of state unemployment benefits over the holidays, without any federal help.  Based on the latest data, nearly two million unemployed workers are expected to be in this situation during the first six months of 2004. 

"The need for this extension is great," said Towns.  "While the President likes to talk about a so- called economic recovery, the only thing that matters to me and my constituents is jobs, and right now there are not enough jobs being created.  So we have a responsibility to help out those people whose unemployment benefits are expiring."
 
In the state of New York, 286,000 jobs have been lost since the beginning of the Administration, with another 3,100 being eliminated in December.  Nationwide the job market remains weak—with only 1,000 new jobs created in December.

In addition to helping people looking for work, this measure should also help promote economic growth, said Towns.  The bill must be passed in the U.S. Senate and signed by the President  before it can become law. 

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