Congress Enjoys Holidays
As Unemployed Lose Safety Net
Washington, D.C. – As 1.3 million Americans faced the loss
of unemployment security at Midnight, Friday December 28th, members of Congress
are off enjoying the holidays until January 6.
Yes, December 28 marked expiration of the 2008 Federal Extended Unemployment Insurance (UI) program, a
safety net for the nation’s long-term unemployed workers who have exhausted
their original 26 weeks UI benefits.
While the nation’s
long-termed unemployed already struggling to keep their homes, feed their
families and pay bills face a New Year absent extended benefits, the Senate is
not scheduled to reconvene to consider a bill for short-term extension until
January 6.
The Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (RIDLT)
recommended in a pre-holiday mailing that individuals receiving
extended unemployment compensation benefits (EUC) continue to request weekly
benefits in the event Congress achieves a favorable resolution in 2014.
Rhode Island joins
Nevada at the top of the pile, in carrying the highest unemployment numbers in
the country.
Farm Bill Unresolved - Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program in Jeopardy
Failure of the 113th
Congress to cooperatively legislate continuation of the 2008 Farm Bill served
as an additional slight to the millions of Americans who currently rely on
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) benefits for food security. A
double-whammy to many families reliant on both support programs, polarity in
proposed cuts to SNAP had House and Senate at a $36 billion impasse.
Headed by House
Agriculture Committee Chairman, Frank D. Lucas (R-Okla.), the 41 member Farm
Bill committee failed to close the gap on food security programs, with
Republican members focused on painting a picture of a flawed government program
riddled with fraud and entitlement deficiencies.
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