Cohen Calls on Speaker Boehner to Let House Vote on Bipartisan Emergency Unemployment Insurance Extension

Bipartisan unemployment extension passed Senate by a vote of 59-38

[WASHINGTON, DC] – Following the U.S. Senate voting 59-38 to extend unemployment insurance, Congressman Steve Cohen today called on Speaker John Boehner to let the House vote on the Senate bipartisan compromise agreement as soon as possible. Despite the growing struggles for more than 41,000 Tennesseans, Speaker Boehner and House Republican leadership have blocked several Democratic efforts to extend the program and appear intent on blocking a vote on the Senate’s bipartisan compromise.

“Speaker Boehner shouldn’t make millions of out-of-work Americans—including more than 41,000 Tennesseans—wait another day for the unemployment benefits they need to keep a roof over their heads and put food on their tables,” said Congressman Cohen. “He should stop obstructing the Senate’s bipartisan bill and immediately let the House vote to extend this critical lifeline to people who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own.”

The bipartisan Senate agreement would:

• Retroactively restore emergency unemployment insurance for five months;
• Exclude millionaires from receiving emergency unemployment insurance;
• Strengthen efforts to help get job seekers back into the workforce;
• Be fully paid for with pension smoothing and extending fees on U.S. customs users through 2024.

To overcome House Republican opposition to extending unemployment insurance, Congressman Cohen has joined 192 Democratic colleagues in signing a discharge petition to force action on this widely supported legislation. The discharge petition will require the House to consider the unemployment insurance extension legislation once a majority of Members of Congress (218) have signed the petition.