Hoffa: Senate Sets Right Course By Approving Unemployment Benefits

House Needs To Put Politics Aside, Back Relief For Nearly 3M Americans As Well

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International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Apr 08, 2014, 02:38 ET

WASHINGTON, April 8, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa issued the following statement today on the Senate's approval of legislation that would reinstate long-term unemployment benefits for some 2.8 million Americans.

"The Senate last night put U.S. families first when it approved a bill that would allow hard-working Americans still searching for work to continue to receive government support," Hoffa said. "The legislation shows that Congress can still do great things when it works in a bipartisan fashion.

"Now it is time for House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) to follow the lead of the Senate. Several lawmakers in his own party have requested that the House take up unemployment benefits, but the Speaker seems to be in no rush. We can't leave American families hanging. Workers deserve the same consideration that Congress' own corporate cronies receive on Capitol Hill. We need a vote on this measure now."

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters.

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SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters