News Archives
July 22, 2010
Unemployment Extension Bill Signed into Law
On Thursday, July 22, 2010, the President signed into law the Unemployment Compensation Act of 2010 (H.R. 4213). The law will restore unemployment benefits for 2.5 million Americans and 35,200 New Jerseyans. The measure will cost approximately $34 billion dollars, and it will provide unemployment assistance to Americans, who have been out of work for six or more months, and it will last through the end of November 2010.
Earlier this month, the House of Representatives passed an unemployment extension bill (H.R. 5618) on July 1, 2010, and sent it to the Senate in hopes of preventing a lapse in benefits which would occur the following day. However, obstructionists in the Senate effectively halted this bill’s progress, allowing jobless benefits to expire for millions of Americans and forcing countless families into an uncertain future.
Thanks to the efforts of all affiliates and our allies in Congress, the Senate passed an extension bill (SA 4425) on July 21, 2010. The next day the House approved the legislation (H.R. 4213) and the President signed it into law.
The New Jersey State AFL-CIO applauds those members of the New Jersey Congressional Delegation who voted to extend unemployment benefits. A report of how the delegation voted is provided below. Once again, we also thank all our affiliates for standing behind this crucial initiative.
Senate Vote on SA 4425
Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), RIGHT
Robert Menendez (D-NJ), RIGHT
House Vote on H.R. 4213
Robert Andrews (D-01), RIGHT
Frank LoBiondo (R-02), RIGHT
John Adler (D-03), RIGHT
Chris Smith (R-04), RIGHT
Scott Garrett (R-05), WRONG
Frank Pallone (D-06), RIGHT
Leonard Lance (R-07), WRONG
Bill Pascrell (D-08), RIGHT
Steven Rothman (D-09), RIGHT
Donald Payne (D-10), RIGHT
Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11), WRONG
Rush Holt (D-12), RIGHT
Albio Sires (D-13), RIGHT