H.R. 4934 would provide for a program of emergency unemployment compensation.
Detailed Summary
Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act of 2008 - Provides for federal-state agreements during a period of rising unemployment under which a state will pay emergency unemployment compensation to individuals who: (1) have exhausted all rights to regular compensation under state or federal law for a benefit year (excluding any benefit year that ended before March 1, 2007); (2) have no rights to regular compensation or extended compensation with respect to a week under such law or any other state unemployment compensation law or to compensation under any other federal law; and (3) are not receiving compensation for such week under the unemployment compensation law of Canada.
Requires federal payments to states to cover 100% of such temporary extended unemployment compensation payments.
Provides for federal-state agreements for increased regular unemployment compensation payments to certain individuals.
Amends the Social Security Act to provide for special transfers to state accounts in the Unemployment Trust Fund for unemployment compensation modernization incentive payments and for administration.
Status of the Legislation
Latest Major Action: 1/15/2008: Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Points in Favor
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Points Against
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Visitor Comments
January
I believe that HR 4934 for Emergency Unemployment would be the best part of the stimulus package because it shows that the poor of this country are being looked after, and that we are taking care of American citizens. In order to stimulate an economy, this is imperative. It needs to be included within any kind of a stimulus package. Period.
Susan
With the current very poor state of the economy, HR 4934 is a MUST and a gesture to the unemployed Americans that the Government has their best interest at heart. Please help the Americans that do not have jobs and cant find them due to major business layoffs and a lack of a flourishing economy.
Sheryl
Yes , I live in Michigan , we have the highest rate of unemployment in the nation. We need help Please. Simple . We should qualify for the additional 26 weeks and a 50.00 per week raise in the weekly benefits. This will help stimulate the economy much better than a tax rebate. We need help desperately.
John
With an 8% Unemployment Rate in Michigan and Thousands losing thier Jobs, Plants/busineses closing at an alarming rate, The Nations highest Record numbers of Forclosures and a Very Weak Job Market - You would think our Crafty Politicians would've already put Unemployment Extensions in place - After Years of Collecting from workers to Pay for the Unemployment Trust Fund, which it's intensions are set for -By Law these Extended Benefits Should be in place - For All those Politicians out there - that are sitting on your hands, get off your azz and DO your Job AS Required by LAW.
Maria
We need to pass this bill immediately. Our Goverment needs to support the people who need this lifeline support in the current bad economic situation of heating, electricity, gasoline and food prices skyrocketing. I know that at least for myself my tax rebate will go toward my monthly rent! How do we expect people whose benefits are running out soon and too many jobs available out there to survive? Please pass this bill so we do not end up having more homeless people in the richest country on the face of the earth. Let's pass this bill to show our compassion as a nation.
Maria
I am so sorry, I made a mistake in my comment above. I meant to say, "with NOT so many jobs out there". My apologies...
Maria
By the way, I live in Western MA... Our politicians say that MA unemploymennt rate is not as high as in other states but say that to the people who have been looking for new jobs and are not able to get anything before their unemployment benefits expire, despite how hard they work at getting a new job. There are absolutely no job openings in Western MA.
debbie
In order to stimulate the economy we need to help the unemployed, such as myself. There are no jobs and I have been looking since August 2007. This is important in order to stimulate the growth of this economy! As far as the tax rebate this does not help the many unemployed in this nation. What in the world happened to including this to the stimulus package??? Looks like we, the hard working Americans have once again been forgotten! Now I have exhausted my unemployment benefits and perhaps will be another statistic facing "forclosure"!
mike smith
please president bush we need this extention.to eat to live.
margie
I have been following this bill for months now, and no activity.
I lost my job in Oct of 07, after working for 33 yrs, and will only get 26 weeks of unemployment soon to run out. I have put in a lot of applications, but there is not much out there. And if they don't pass this bill soon I will lose my home, with no where else to turn. Where is the government for the people. I don't want to support other countries, just our own.
Bill
I am 65 yrs old and was displaced from my position by a corporate merger in Oct. 2007. I am unable to retire and need to work to survive. I have sent applied with resumes to well over 150 companies. My Unemployment compensation is about to end and still no job. Please Mr. President..this extension is needed so badly in this economy. I don't want to lose my home. Please help by putting into motion this unemployment compensation extension. thank You.
dave
America is the most generous nation on Earth. We help other nations in need, why cant our nation help its own people in need? with our economy the way it is (especally in Michigan) people here need help while looking for a job, that stimulas money will help people, but only with there bills.there is just too many people who are looking to lose there homes and the morgage companys dont want to help, its no wonder people here are walking away from there homes, we just dont get the help we need to just survive, please pass this bill so WE as American can at least feed and heat our families.
Lynda
This is truly an emergency situation. The job outlook in California is very bleak and jobs are extremely hard to come by. My employer layed-off 10% of the companies workforce. I have been deligently looking for employment and yet my unemployment benefit is about to end. Then what am I to do? Please act quickly. Thank you
Doug
People of America listen up. Your President and his rich buddies don't get richer without making more people lose their houses. Repo'ing more cars and making you spend your last red cent. More people need to speak out cantact your Senators, Congressmen, Mayors, Governors ect. Make them understand their gonna lose their job come election time. So do something and not sit on their royal paid butts.
Maureen
Please past this bill. In todays ecomony it is very sad that people who worked over 20-25 years cannot get unemployment extenstions. pass the bill
CS
I live in Illinois and I do not support this bill that targets only specific states. I am in support of the orignal bill S2544 which was left out of the economic stimulus package and allows ALL unemployed Americans to receive UI extension. I too have been unemployed since Octover 2007 and my state would not currently qualify under this Target HR.4934 bill. Please join All unemployed Americans in Open Congress Bill S.2544.
http://www.opencongress.org/bill/110-s2544/show
Alot of folks are actively logging comments to that website every day every hour every minute. Please don't waste your time on this HR.4934 website.
CS
I stand corrected. I do not support Bill H.R. 5688 - Target introduced by Weller on 4/4/2008 see below
http://www.morrisdailyherald.com/articles/2008/04/06/news/514dtarget.tx... />
But please folks join us on the opencongress website.
n gardner
this bill makes no sense as it doesn't consider the sectors in other states that have high unemployment in Construction especially but low in other sectors. The first bill,S2544 Kennedy's) is the better one.
concerned
this bill-[TARGET] is a joke and the writers of the bill will be lucky if they remain in office after the election. Sen Kennedy's bill S2544 is a MUCH BETTER bill and should be considered, to help ALL struggling Americans that are unemployed
Al
IMPEACH GEORGE BUSH! Put him in the street!
Lisa
It;s hurtful to see americans suffer.Bush needs to pass this bill ASAP.The question i have is what happens after the thirteen weeks are up.Will we get another extension
LISA
AMEICAN PEOPLE,THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED,IF LOSE OUR PROPERTY,CARS,INSURANCE.WHAT;S NEXT''WE ARE DOOMED.
LISA
I;VE LOST MY JOB, I;M TRYING TO FINANCE MY KID EDUCATION(COLLEGE).PLEASE TELL WHAT 235.00 WEEKLY CAN DO FOR ME .WHEN MY HOUSE PAYMENT IS MORE THAN UNEMPLOYMENT GROSS MONTHLY 960.00 THE ECONOMY NEEDS TO CHANGE FOR US ALL ,I;LL LIKE TO SEE OUR VERY OWN PRESIDENT TACKLE THAT 960.00 MONTHLY.I LIVE IN THE STATE OF SWEET HOME ALABAMA
Jim
http://waysandmeans.house.gov/
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Ways and Means Passes Extension of Unemployment Benefits
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to the growing number of workers losing their jobs and the high number of long-term unemployed workers, the House Committee on Ways and Means today passed bipartisan legislation to provide an immediate extension of unemployment benefits nationwide. H.R. 5749, the Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation Act, was introduced by Ways and Means Income Security and Family Support Subcommittee Chairman Jim McDermott (D-WA) and Committee Member Phil English (R-PA) last week to address the growing concerns of this recent economic downturn. H.R. 5479 passed the committee by a vote of 23 to 13.
JOHN PAUL JONES
ITS TIME FOR THE REVOLUTION......
workerssurvival2008
Lots of information on unemployment, come join us
www.freewebs.com/workerssurvival2008
Responsible American
You all are a bunch of whiners. I bet the Framers--Adams, Jefferson, Franklin, would look upon you all with contempt and total disgust. Government is NOT DADDY! Why were you living beyond your means to begin with, and not saving money, planning ahead for any possibility? Especially if you have kids! To put your kids in danger like that, is irresponsible. You are pathetic. If you can't find work where you are, move. Time to mail in those keys to that house you couldn't afford to begin with, and rent elsewhere. "Give you a job?" HA. You go FIND a job. You'll get nowhere with that victim entitlement mentality.
Petkov
maybe all you people should STOP trying to relay on "jobs" and maybe try to become self reliant the same way people were in the 19th century. Not a bad ideas, hmmmmmmm?
WHO'S MINDING THE STORE?
I thought the white house was for the President of the UNITED STATES to live in, that why for the past 8 years have we had a DICTATOR living there who only concerns himself with FOREIGN affairs?
I WOULD RATER BE AT WORK
But since I am still unemployed after 7 months and 150 resumes latter and I have a goverment that ISN'T for the people, than I have nothing better to do than to exercise my 2nd Amendment Rights.
OUR GOVERMENT?
A goverment by the people and for the people, "huh I don't get it".
A goverment by the rich and for the rich, "oh now I get it"!
Sandi
I live in MI. Lost my Job in Feb 2007, unemployment ran out in Aug of 2007, used up my 401K, am signed with 2 employment agencies, have worked a total of 6 days. No work available. I need money now. I need a job now. Can't afford gas to drive anymore. Where is my government? Why do illegal aliens get aid, and I can't?
Michael
STOP FEEDING IRAQ...I COULD GIVE A SH*T..FEED ME FIRST.IM AN AMERICAN....IM ABOUT TO LOOSE EVERYTHING, AND IM HUNGRY
JOHN
BUSH HAS GOT TO GO....HE NEEDS TO GIVE HIS PAYCHECK UP TO AMERICAN'S.......I'D LIKE TO SEE HIM LOOSE EVERYTHING, AND AS I WALK BY HIM ON THE STREET I TELL HIM GOOD.WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND, BECAUSE HES NOT GOING TO HEAVEN, BECAUSE GOD WOULD SEE TO IT......YOU TAKE CARE OF YOUR OWN FIRST, AND THE OTHERS COUNTRIES CAN WAIT. THERE NOT HELPING ME.......
Say it ain't true!
From what I am hearing and reading the bill has been REJECTED!!! IF anyone has any additional information regarding the TRUTH on this bill, please let us all know. We are all about to lose EVERTHING! Our homes, cars, and our minds waiting for this to pass.