Details of H.R.3548 Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2009

by Libertys Army on October 22, 2009 · 17 comments

in Economics,Employment

The following information is from the GOP.gov Legislative Digest.

H.R. 3548 is being considered under suspension of the rules, requiring a two-thirds vote for passage. The legislation was introduced by Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA) on September 10, 2009.

H.R. 3548 would extend unemployment benefits for an additional 13 weeks for individuals living in States with total unemployment rates above 8.5 percent, or States where the insured unemployment rate exceeds 6 percent and has risen by at least 20 percent compared to the two previous calendar years. The bill would also extend an existing 0.2 percent Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) surtax through 2010, and expand wage reporting requirements on existing databases of new hires, in order to finance the extension.

A formal Congressional Budget Office was not available at press time; however, a preliminary CBO estimate indicated the bill would spend approximately $1.4 billion, paid for by an extension of the FUTA surtax.

Source:
H.R.3548 Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2009

You can track H.R.3548 Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2009 here

Tagged as: H.R.3548 Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2009, Unemployment, Unemployment Insurance Benefits

{ 17 comments }

john filleti October 23, 2009 at 6:12 am

What does the unemployment extension mean to me ? Well, Ben Franklin always applied the “pro v.s. con” formula on matters of the “people” that become “political”.
So lets give it a go… shall we.

Pros:
I use my unemployment benefit to buy food for my family, a necessity.
I use my unemployment benefit to keep the utilities on in my home, another necessity.
I use my unemployment benefit to put gas in my car to get to and from “job interviews”.
I use my unemployment benefit to make my auto insurance payment to keep me on the road legally.
I use my unemployment benefit to purchase copy paper and ink so I can send my resume to potential employers.
I use my unemployment benefit for prescriptions and medical co-payments if needed.
I use my unemployment benefit to attend career training classes to better my chances of finding a job.

Cons: Republicans seem to be undecided as to where the additional money should come from.

In summary, not approving and moving ahead rapidly to get the extension passed is like sending a soldier into battle with a gun, but making him wait for his bullets.
Doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense…now does it.

Patty Pennington October 24, 2009 at 7:49 am

Without my unemployment benefit (which ran out last week) I will not have power, I will not have food, I will not have gas to go to job interviews, I will lose my car, I will not have a place to live much longer.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PASS THIS AMENDMENT

Doug October 25, 2009 at 8:26 pm

The government created this unemployment problem. We are talking about people who have a history of working and who want to work and earn their way, but are caught in the pain of our deliberately manipulated economy. The government created it; they need to take care of the victims of their avarice. When the elephants dance the ants suffer.

Christie November 8, 2009 at 8:27 pm

I feel the pain you are in…….I am lonely and all my “friends” that work just do not understand. I have reached the edge of the cliff…….my future looks so bleak…….I see myself with nothing in the future……..I am very pretty Calfornia girl/women…..that never found that special one…….I had alot of bad family past, and more -alot more that I will not get into-READ my other blogs about the stat’s of my county. Is it going to be the rich get to live and everyone else will die from health reason’s or just overcome by depression? I am not the same person. I was traveling aroung the world, I even got invited to the Grammies, and at the time big deal “walked down the red carpet with people and photos paying so much attenion-flattering. NOW- I am a shut in and ready to lose it any moment…..bless you and GOOD LUCK to you -we all deserve our chance to shine-in my dreams….but it should be true for everyone……respond if you want-christie

Jamie October 26, 2009 at 4:37 pm

AMEN!!

susan October 30, 2009 at 11:31 am

This only helps those who run out by Dec. 31. For those of us that run out the first week of January, it does NOTHING. It is not going to pass until November, therefore it affects a very small number of people. How about they actually realize for once how much goes into passing something like this and make it for a longer period of time? Something passing in November that runs out in December is not addressing the full issue. Unless it takes care of everyone running out for the next few months it seems extremely unfair.

vinci October 31, 2009 at 3:06 pm

@ Susan:

Yes, it will help you. Once your benefits run out in January you start to collect off the new extension, if you’re not working. Since the majority run out in December there’s no rush, but those people aren’t the ones suffering. It’s the ones that have already exhausted their benefits that are suffering. Hang in there folks!

Nathan Lane November 3, 2009 at 3:00 pm

@ Vinci… My benefits run out January 6th. From what I’ve read, I’m screwed. We don’t qualify for the extension unless we exhaust our first six months before 12/26. I’ve looked everywhere for the answer to this, where have you seen that a person in my situation would qualify for an extension?

susan November 3, 2009 at 4:45 pm

Hey Nathan,
If you are just finishing up 26 weeks in January you will actually qualify for the first set of extension. This legislation is actually to extend the dates for the first couple of extensions from Dec. 26 of this year to next year, so you will be fine. It’s those of us that have finished all current extensions in January that are screwed! I will have exhausted all available CA extensions the first week of January, and this legislation only gives a last extension to those who run out by the end of Dec., so in my case, I run out a week too late to qualify for it. But for someone with only 26 weeks behind him you will be okay and will start your first extension.

Janet November 4, 2009 at 6:55 pm

Susan, I am from CA as well. I too, am running out of all benefits in the first part of January 2010. It is a great thing that this 3548 passed tonight and I’m sure it will be signed but it is all of us that need to start pushing for the original bill 3404 to get passed. This was the orignial bill and would have extended our dates into 2010. I am relieved that these folks here that have exhausted all of their benefits will get up to 20 weeks and knowing that their kids will have food and possibly something for Christmas. Sooo no, this bill did not help us but I am still going to be searching CA’s EDD site for updates as soon as they post. Otherwise don’t give up! We need to fight this next one as it’s going to be more of a mess with more of us losing benefits into the new year. The government should know this and why they just didn’t take care of it all at once is beyond me. It was stalled nearly one month so we must get working on 3404 promptly.

Mary Ann November 4, 2009 at 11:59 am

I am 65 years old. My Tier 2 benefit ended in July. I haven’t been able to find
work since. I live in Michigan. Am I eligible for this Tier 3 Benefit…I don’t want
to believe its my age, however there is nothing out there for me. Please help!

susan November 5, 2009 at 9:52 am

Hey Janet,
I’m sorry to hear you are in the same boat, but nice to have some company about the stress of this! I, too, was really upset when they changed h.r. 3404 to this new bill that cut out everyone running out after Dec.! You are right, they should have known this, and it’s frustrating that by the time this takes effect it will be in effect for roughly a month! Do you think they will “extend” this extension as they have done with the others? Remember last year when there was a March date that we did not qualify for and thy just pushed the date a few months into the future? Do you think the same thing will happen or do they need to do a whole different bill like h.r.3404? I still don’t get why they changed that bill in the first place!

Jim V November 5, 2009 at 1:33 pm

I have been unemployed since Jan19, 09. I got my 26 weeks and was allowed the Tier 1 and now getting Tier 2 of Federal extensions totaling 20 weeks. That is a total of 46 and then Im done. My does not expire until Jan 2010 so this new Act does not help me one single bit. Also other people that started claims in Oct 2008 were entitled to extended state benefits of 20 weeks. So some get 73 weeks and more and some dont. The people that are getting most of the benefits are the ones that filed end of 2008 when the unemployment rate was lower. This entire deal is a real mess and I see that we were promised that there would be no more extensions from the Feds. Thank you so much. NOT!

Liberty's Army November 8, 2009 at 1:04 am

What are Democrats Doing about Job Loss? Making it Worse

Today, the unemployment rate jumped to 10.2 percent, the highest level in 26 years. Rather than working with Republicans to fix the economy and create more jobs, Democrats have focused on a partisan agenda: massive spending increases, more government control, job-destroying taxes, and a government takeover of health care.

“Stimulus”: In February, the Democrats passed the $1 trillion “stimulus” legislation, which Democrats promised would produce 3 to 4 million jobs-90 percent of which would be new private jobs-and keep unemployment below 8 percent. Since then, the country has lost nearly three million jobs and more than half of the “saved and created” jobs reported by the White House were government jobs that already existed.

Democrat Budget: The Democrat budget contained over $1.5 trillion in crushing tax increases over the next 10 years. These huge tax hikes on families, small businesses, and workers will slow economic growth and cost jobs.

National Energy Tax: House Democrats passed a national energy tax as part of the “cap and tax” legislation, which would drive up the cost of energy and impose thousands of dollars in new taxes on every individual, family, and business in the country. According to one study, 2.3 to 2.7 million jobs would be lost per year for the next twenty years as a result of the energy tax.

Pelosi Health Care Bill: Speaker Pelosi’s government takeover of health care would kill jobs by imposing $729.5 billion in higher taxes on a struggling economy, including $135 billion in taxes on businesses who cannot afford to finance their workers’ health coverage and taxes on individuals without insurance. A model developed by chief Obama advisor Christina Romer indicates that as many as 5.5 million jobs could be lost from the bill’s new taxes.

Republicans Seek to Create jobs

Stimulus: Republicans proposed an alternative job-creation plan to the Democrat’s massive and ineffective “stimulus” bill. According to Romer’s model, the Republican plan would have created 6.2 million jobs over the next two years-twice the forecast jobs, at half the cost of the Democrats’ bill, over the next two years.

Energy: Republicans introduced the American Energy Act, an all-of-the-above solution that creates jobs, increases energy independence, and leads to a cleaner environment for our nation.

Health Care Reform: Republicans recently introduced an alternative health care reform measure that would lower the cost of health care for struggling families by up to 10 percent over the next ten years, without imposing crushing taxes on individuals or job creators.

Today’s report further highlights the Democrats’ failure to address the most important issue in the country. While the President and Congressional Democrats turn their backs on staggering levels of unemployment, Republicans will continue to offer solutions to create jobs and get Americans back to work.

Liberty's Army November 8, 2009 at 1:09 am

While Democrats Ignore Unemployment, Americas Pay the Price

“Our team is working with members of Congress every day on this issue (health care), and it is my highest legislative priority.”

-President Barack Obama, July 10, 2009.

Today, the Department of Labor reported that unemployment reached a staggering 10.2 percent for the month of October, the highest level in 26 years. While Americans suffer, Democrats are spending their time trying to force Pelosi’s health care takeover through Congress. The shocking 10.2 percent unemployment only tells part of the story of the struggles of average Americans that Democrats ignore. A deeper look at the numbers reveals the true cost of the Democrats’ economic policies, especially for the nation’s most vulnerable people.

15,700,000: Americans unemployed and looking for work-the highest number ever. Since the trillion dollar Democrat “stimulus” was passed, the number of unemployed Americans has increased by more than 3.2 million.

190,000: Individuals whose jobs were eliminated in October.

1,737,000: People unemployed in October because they have been laid off.

2,804,000: Jobs lost since Democrats’ “stimulus” was passed in February.

9,284,000: People who are working only part-time because they cannot find full time employment.

2,373,000: People who want work, but who are not currently looking because of the state of the economy.

5,594,000: People unemployed and searching for work for more than 27 weeks-the highest level ever.

1,090,000: Job seekers that are new entrants to the workforce and have yet to find a job.

26.9: Average number of weeks job seekers are unemployed after losing their jobs-the highest number since the statistic was first recorded in 1948.

27.6%: Unemployment rate among job seekers between the ages of 16 and 19-the highest level since the statistic was first measured in 1948.

15.7%: Unemployment rate among African Americans-the highest level since 1985.

13.1%: Unemployment rate among Hispanics and Latinos.

17.5%: Rate of underemployment, accounting for the unemployed and those who are unable to find adequate work.

15.5%: Unemployment rate among job seekers without a high school degree.

65.1%: Rate of the U.S. population in the workforce.

Brenda Z November 24, 2009 at 9:29 pm

I just got my first check on from the federal extension HR 3548 only to find out that I will only get 3 more checks. What in the hell good did this do. What idiots. Do they really think people are going xmas shopping? How are we supposed to look for work when you can’t buy the gas or pay for the cable? I don’t understand the point of it. My husband lost his job in Feb. 2009 and he won’t qualify for any thing past his first extension. HAVE THE HEARD THE TERM” DOUBLE DIP RECESSION’.This won’t be recession, this will be a depression. Instead of complaining on this blog, I need to know know who we contact to get them of the medical crap and deal what’s really important and that’s jobs. We need the money to look for them. What’s really sad is nobody is talking about this. Have the people I have talk to don’t even no they are getting cut off. The media nor the news papers don’t discuss it. There are going to be a lot of people in shock when the don’t get their checks!

brenda November 24, 2009 at 9:39 pm

Half the people I have talked to don’t even no that their benefits are getting cut off in December. Every heard of double dip recession? This is going to send us right into a depression. What are they thinking? Talking about Medical coverage when people won’t even have the money to buy gas, food, electric. And forget all the stores counting on christmas. This is why they aren’t broad- casting that it will be over before it started. I will recieve 3 checks, out of 20 weeks. I have read other blogs and people are saying praise god etc. that it passed and they don’t even no that it’s over before it started.
Thank you President Obama

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