Bill Text: NJ AR60 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges Congress to enact legislation providing extended unemployment benefits.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-01-16 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Labor Committee [AR60 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-AR60-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman VINCENT PRIETO
District 32 (Bergen and Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
Urges Congress to enact legislation providing extended unemployment benefits.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution urging Congress to enact legislation to provide extended unemployment benefits for laid off workers.
Whereas, The most recent recession is the most severe economic downturn since the Great Depression, causing the loss of more than half a million jobs in the State of New Jersey; and
Whereas, Federal extensions of unemployment benefits provide an essential support to unemployed workers and their families, as well as to the institutions and businesses in their communities which rely on their patronage for their continued solvency; and
Whereas, On December 31, 2013, the federal program of extended unemployment benefits expired, thereby cutting off an additional 47 weeks of unemployment benefits, paid by the federal government, to unemployed workers who had exhausted their State-funded benefits; and
Whereas, The federal program of extended benefits provides workers with vital unemployment benefits, and it is essential for Congress to reinstate this lifeline to unemployed workers throughout 2014; and
Whereas, Unemployment benefits provide an important stimulus, not only for the recipients, but also for businesses and institutions in areas of high unemployment, as the benefits are spent at local grocery stores, gas stations, and other retailers and service providers; and
Whereas, Approximately 1.3 million American workers, including tens of thousands of New Jerseyans, immediately lost their unemployment benefits when the federal program of extended benefits expired at the end of 2013, and they will not have access to federal unemployment benefits in 2014 unless the program is reinstated; and
Whereas, On January 7, 2014, The United States Senate cleared the way for debate and full passage of a bill to reinstate the federal extension of unemployment benefits, which then must be considered and passed by the House of Representatives; and
Whereas, Unless Congress fully acts to pass this legislation, 1.9 million unemployed Americans will see their benefits expire over the next six months; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Congress of the United States is respectfully urged to enact legislation to provide extended unemployment benefits for laid off workers.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the presiding officers of the United States Senate and the House of Representatives, and to each member of Congress elected from the State of New Jersey.
STATEMENT
This resolution urges Congress to enact legislation to provide extended unemployment benefits to laid off workers.
On December 31, 2013, the federal program of extended unemployment benefits expired, immediately cutting off unemployment benefits to nearly 1.3 million Americans, including tens of thousands of New Jerseyans. It is vital that Congress act to reinstate the federal extension of unemployment benefits and to continue to provide this lifeline to unemployed workers throughout 2014.
