Congressman Cohen Votes for Unemployment Insurance and a New GI Bill for the 21st Century

Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) voted in favor of Amendment #2, which will address pressing domestic needs such as restoring education benefits to soldiers, extending unemployment benefits for American workers and providing disaster relief in response to the floods and tornadoes in the Midwest. However, he voted against Amendment #1 to continue the war in Iraq through the summer of 2009.

“Today, we were able to pass many of our most pressing domestic initiatives through an amendment to the 2008 budget supplemental bill,” said Congressman Cohen. “In keeping with my pledge to the people of the 9th District to oppose legislation that prolongs the war in Iraq, I voted against the President’s request for additional funding for the war. Amendment #2, which I did vote for, includes some of the most important and progressive items on our domestic agenda, including the extension of unemployment insurance in response to the declining economy and a landmark GI bill for the 21st Century. We also passed emergency disaster aid to Midwestern states recently stricken by a string of floods and tornadoes. I was proud to vote to pass our domestic and humanitarian priorities through Amendment #2 today, and I remain committed to ending the Iraq War and bringing our troops home as soon as possible.”

Amendment #1 covers the costs of the wars through the summer of 2009. The total includes $99.5 billion for FY 2008 and $65.9 billion for FY 2009. However, Amendment #2 would reduce the funding requested by the Senate by $3.6 billion for a new total of $161.8 billion for DOD funding of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Amendment #2 enacts many of the legislative initiatives that the House has passed this session which have been vetoed by the President or blocked in the Senate. First, the amendment provides for a new GI Bill which fully restores GI education benefits for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans to the level available after World War II. It restores full, four-year college scholarships to veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan and gives them the tools to succeed after military service and play an increased role in the economic recovery.

Amendment #2 also included provisions for a 13 week extension of unemployment benefits for those workers who are unable to find a job because of the slowing economy. For the fifth straight month, lost jobs and unemployment rose from 5.0% in April to 5.5% in May, with 49,000 jobs lost in May alone—the largest monthly spike in 22 years. Americans have lost nearly 325,000 jobs this year and 1.6 million Americans have been unemployed more than six months, despite looking for work.

Additionally, Amendment #2:
• provides $2.65 billion for urgent disaster relief in response to Midwestern floods and tornadoes;
• places a moratorium until April 1, 2009 on six Administration-imposed Medicaid regulations, which would slash federal funding for vital programs and services;
• provides a total of $10.1 billion for the State Department, USAID, and international food assistance, $670 million above the President’s request;
• provides $2.2 billion over the President’s request to fully fund military quality of life initiatives – including funding for military child care centers, military hospitals and VA hospitals.
• requires that U.S. reconstruction aid for Iraq provided by the State Department and USAID be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Iraqi Government;
• prohibits establishing permanent U.S. bases in Iraq;
• provides additional funding for Gulf Coast Recovery;
• provides $400 million in additional funding for science; and
• provides $150 million in additional funding for food and medical product safety;

Congressman Cohen added, “Today, we honored our veterans with our words and our deeds. Our legislation will ensure the veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan can attend college and get the education they need after courageously serving our nation. Additionally, we have widened the social safety net. For millions of American families, the economic downturn is a real emergency. Expanding unemployment benefits will provide significant relief to workers who have lost their jobs and can barely make ends meet. This will also help to stimulate an economic recovery, as studies have shown that extending unemployment benefits is one of the most cost-effective and timely forms of economic stimulus.”

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Contact:
Marilyn Dillihay, Press Secretary, 202-225-3265
Charlie Gerber, Communications Assistant, 202-225-3265