Kildee, Speaker Pelosi and Democratic Leaders Call on Republicans to Extend Federal Unemployment Benefits

Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05), Chief Deputy Whip of the House Democratic Caucus, today was joined by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (CA-12), Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal (MA-01) and Worker and Family Support Subcommittee Chairman Danny K. Davis (IL-07) to call for the immediate extension of enhanced federal unemployment insurance benefits.

Without action by July 31st from the President and Senate Republicans, the $600/week federal UI benefit for over 25 million Americans is set to expire. The U.S. House of Representatives previously passed The Heroes Act, which, in addition to additional economic stimulus payments and support for state and local governments, extends enhanced federal unemployment benefits through January 31, 2021.

“If Republicans do not act, 25 million Americans will lose a vital lifeline. This would be absolutely devastating to families and our economy,” said Congressman Kildee. “Now is not the time to pull back and say to families—‘you’re on your own.’ Every dollar matters to families struggling because of this virus and failing to extend unemployment benefits will mean that families cannot afford groceries, pay rent or pick up prescriptions.”

‪"Without action by President Trump and Senate Republicans, federal unemployment insurance will expire for millions of Americans this weekend. The Senate must take up the House-passed Heroes Act and extend this critical lifeline for working families,” said Speaker Pelosi. “This is essential to the wellbeing of America’s families.”

“The other side knew this was coming. They were waiting to see how this would play out and now they are bringing us to the eve of an economic catastrophe if unemployment insurance is not extended,” said Chairman Neal. “Complacency would be the worst strategy to adopt right now.”

“Unemployed individuals don’t work because they can’t work. They can’t work because it’s dangerous for them to work, they can’t work because there is no work, and they can’t work because there is no child care for them,” said Chairman Davis. “I reject the idea that we could let the $600 supplement expire and just give workers some help after the fact. We must protect workers and families, now is the time and we must act immediately.”

In May, Congressman Kildee and Senator Reed introduced The Strengthening UI for Coronavirus Impacted Workers and Students Act, which would extend the enhanced federal unemployment benefit past July 2020 and was included in The Heroes Act. Earlier this month, Kildee, Davis and 110 members of Congress sent a letter to President Donald J. Trump urging his administration to extend these federal unemployment insurance benefits past July.