Hoffa: Extend Unemployment Insurance

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International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Nov 30, 2011, 01:30 ET

Says Extension Needed to Help Alleviate Jobs Crisis

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa said Wednesday that Congress should quickly vote to extend unemployment insurance benefits.

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His comments followed a press conference in which unemployed workers and members of Congress urged the renewal of federal unemployment insurance programs past the Dec. 31 cut-off. U.S. Reps. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, and Sander Levin, D-Mich., introduced H.R. 3346, which extends the federal unemployment insurance programs through next year. Unless Congress acts, more than 2 million American workers will lose their benefits by the middle of February. Six million will lose benefits by the end of 2012.

"Americans are suffering through the worst crisis of long-term unemployment since the Great Depression," Hoffa said. "It's time for Congress to get to work and help American workers who are going through serious hardship through no fault of their own."

Unemployment, now at 9 percent, has exceeded 8 percent for 33 months, the longest since the government began keeping records in 1948. The Economic Policy Institute estimates that letting federal unemployment benefits lapse at year end would depress consumer demand and cost 528,000 jobs.

"If we're a decent society, we'll help people who are struggling," Hoffa said. "If we're a rational society, we'll put money in the pockets of people who will spend it, which will help create jobs."

The Teamsters support the proposal, which would also relieve states of interest charges if they have federal unemployment insurance loans.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents more than 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information and follow us on Twitter @teamsterpower.

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters