Senate Passes 13-Week Unemployment Insurance Extension with Cantwell Provision
Senator Cantwell's measure ensures state millions in savings
WASHINGTON, DC - The Senate today passed legislation that would extend unemployment benefits by 13 weeks to workers laid off during the recession. The legislation also included provisions proposed by Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) that ensures dramatic savings in the cost of Washington state's unemployment benefits program.
"With more than 23,000 jobs lost in December alone, extending unemployment benefits helps people put food on the table and make their mortgage and utility payments," Cantwell said. "By saving Washington state millions, we preserve the state's ability to provide additional assistance and training to laid off workers."
Cantwell's provision ensures that Washington state workers would receive federal benefits before tapping into scarce state employment insurance funds. The bill that passed the Senate today allows all states to access federal unemployment benefits after 26 weeks.
Since Washington state offers benefits for longer than 26 weeks, had Cantwell's provision not been passed, the state could not access federal benefits until each individual workers' entire benefits package had been exhausted. Without Cantwell's provision, the state would have been penalized for offering more generous benefits.
According figures provided by the Washington state Department of Employment Security, the state will save more than $30 million under the provision.
The bill, which passed the Senate by unanimous consent, now goes to the House.
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