Sen. Reed urges extension of unemployment benefits
3:13 PM Tue, Oct 20, 2009 | Permalink
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WASHINGTON -- U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., took to the Senate floor on Tuesday to urge passage of a bill that would extend unemployment benefits for many people who are out of work. "Hundreds of thousands of Americans have already exhausted their unemployment benefits, including 3,500 Rhode Islanders. Unfortunately, this number is growing every day," Reed said. "These people are out of work, without an employment check or paycheck, with jobs remaining scarce." Reed said the problem is "particularly dire" in Rhode Island, where the official unemployment rate is 13 percent. "If you look at the under-employed, if you look at those who have dropped out of the labor force, [the actual unemployment rate] is probably much higher," Reed said on the Senate floor. "If you look at subcategories -- teenagers, for example -- much higher," he said. "Minority communities, much higher. As a result, there is a growing frustration and too often a desperation gripping the people of Rhode Island." "If you look at the under-employed, if you look at those who have dropped out of the labor force, [the actual unemployment rate] is probably much higher," Reed said on the Senate floor. "If you look at subcategories -- teenagers, for example, much higher. Minority communities, much higher. As a result, there is a growing frustration and too often a desperation gripping the people of Rhode Island," he said. Reed urged support of a bill that would, among other things, extend unemployment benefits by up to 20 weeks for many out-of-work Rhode Islanders. In addition to the 3,500 or so Rhode Islanders who would benefit immediately, the bill would also help "thousands more Rhode Islanders" who are scheduled to run out of benefits in the months ahead, Reed said. "These families need this help to stay afloat, to pay their bills, to stay in their homes," he added. Later on Tuesday, Reed joined 13 other Democratic senators at a news conference to publicly call for the measure's passage. 
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PLEASE PASS THE BILL FOR UNEMPLOYMENT EXTENSIONS
i LIVE IN CALIFORNIA WHERE THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
IS ABOVE 10%. THERE IS NO WORK!!!!!!!!!
AND MY HUSBAND IS DISABLED AND CANNOT WORK HELP!!!!!
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nancy it could be worse you could live in rhode island.this state has a bunch of do nothings in the general assembly.this assembly only cares about pleasing their union bosses.this leaves the out of work rhode islanders with more taxes to pay for these people in the unions.this ga cares nothing about the non union rhode island citizen.this will proven true when they vote for binding arbitration for the schoolteachers this week.frankie williams i need a job in turn you can have my spare house key
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