Labor

“We Are Not Creating Jobs Fast Enough and Must Take Additional, Immediate Steps to Help Save and Create Jobs”

November 6, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. - Today, as the U.S. Department of Labor announced October unemployment reached 10.2 percent, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement:

"Today's unemployment number is a dire indication of how deep the current crisis has pushed our economy.    » read more »

Underscores Need For Safety Net, Recovery Efforts; Unemployment Insurance Extension Signed Into Law Today; Casey COBRA Health Care Subsidy Introduced

November 6, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC- Following the announcement that the U.S. unemployment rate climbed to 10.2% in October, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) released the following statement on improving the safety net for unemployed workers and the need for job creation initiatives:    » read more »

Washington, Nov 5 -- Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) voted to stimulate the local economy and provide stability to families hit hardest by the recession by extending unemployment benefits, the homebuyers’ tax credit, and tax relief for military families and businesses.

The Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act (HR 3548) now heads to the President for his signature. The legislation passed the House by a vote of 403 to 12. The Senate passed the legislation November 4 by a vote of 98 to 0.

The legislation will extend relief to millions of workers, families, and businesses nationwide.    » read more »

November 5, 2009 -- (Washington, DC) -- Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-Wisc.) today voted for an extension of unemployment benefits, the homebuyers’ tax credit and tax relief for military families and businesses that will help stimulate the local economy and provide stability to American families.

The Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act will provide immediate assistance, extending relief to millions of workers, families, and businesses nationwide.    » read more »

Legislation also extends homebuyer credit, provides business tax relief

November 5, 2009 -- (Washington D.C.) -- The House of Representatives today passed legislation which extends unemployment insurance up to 20 weeks for jobless workers who have exhausted their previous extensions. Additionally, the legislation extends and expands the availability of the homebuyer tax credit and provides tax relief for businesses hard hit by the recession. The Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act passed by a vote of 403 to 12. The President is expected to sign the measure into law.    » read more »

November 5, 2009 -- Washington, DC - Washington, DC – Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15), co-sponsor of H.R. 3548, the “Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2009”, spoke about the passage of this bill that stands to help the tens of thousands of Michigan residents on the verge of losing their unemployment benefits. The House passed the bill 403-12.    » read more »

Nov. 07, 2009 -- Washington, DC – On Thursday, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed HR 3548, the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009 by a vote of 403 to 12. This bill provides critical aid to families in Southeast Michigan and across the country in the form of extended unemployment benefits, tax relief to businesses, and an extension and expansion of the homebuyers’ tax credit.

The bill, which was passed earlier this week by the Senate, now goes to the President’s desk, where it is expected to be signed into law.

A copy of Congressman Conyers’ statement of support is below:

Statement of Congressman John Conyers, Jr. on
Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009
November 5, 2009

Madam Speaker,    » read more »

November 5, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. -- The U.S. House of Representatives today voted 403-12 to extend unemployment benefits for 14 weeks to 1.3 million jobless Americans who will exhaust all their unemployment benefits by the end of the year, including an estimated 46,900 in Hawaii. The extended unemployment benefits were part of the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009, which also extends the homebuyers’ tax credit and tax relief for military families and businesses.    » read more »

Seasonally Adjusted Data

November 5, 2009 -- In the week ending Oct. 31, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 512,000, a decrease of 20,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 532,000. The 4-week moving average was 523,750, a decrease of 3,000 from the previous week's revised average of 526,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 4.4 percent for the week ending Oct. 24, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 4.4 percent.    » read more »

11/05/2009 -- BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Tyson Foods Inc., one of the nation's largest poultry producers, has been found in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) at its Blountsville, Ala., facility. The jury's verdict in federal court in Birmingham resulted from a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Labor against the company.

"We are very pleased that the jury in Birmingham has vindicated our position that employers must pay their workers for the time that they are required to work," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "This is a victory for workers, and the result of years of dedicated efforts to protecting the rights of working Americans on the part of attorneys, investigators and others within the Labor Department."    » read more »

Bill Also Includes Measures to Extend Homebuyer Tax Credit and Help Businesses to Offset Losses Incurred During Recession

November 4, 2009 -- Washington, DC - With millions of Americans still struggling to find work in this difficult economy, the U.S. Senate today took action to assist those in need by extending unemployment insurance benefits for up to 20 weeks. The legislation, which passed the Senate by a vote of 98 to 0, will also expand and extend the $8,000 homebuyer tax credit passed earlier this year and allow businesses to offset losses incurred during the recession. Whitehouse, a cosponsor of the unemployment provision, released the following statement following today's vote:    » read more »

Measure Includes Tax Credits for First-time Homebuyers, Small Businesses

November 4, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) today praised the Senate passage of legislation to extend unemployment insurance for up to 14 additional weeks for jobless workers in all 50 states. A cosponsor of the legislation, Webb has repeatedly called on his colleagues to swiftly pass the much-needed extension that would provide relief for the nearly 2 million Americans, including 13,000 Virginians, who will exhaust their unemployment benefits by the end of the year.    » read more »

November 4, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D-N.M., today issued the following statement regarding the Senate’s long-awaited passage of an Unemployment Insurance benefits extension following weeks of partisan delays:

“While I remain outraged that Senate Republicans decided to engage in nearly a month of political gamesmanship before working with us to extend unemployment benefits for millions of laid-off American workers, I’m relieved that aid for these families is around is finally the corner.

“In New Mexico, more than 150,000 residents are jobless as a result of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Now we will finally be able to send them a financial lifeline to keeping roofs over their heads and food on their tables.    » read more »

Legislation also provides tax refunds to struggling Michigan businesses, extends and expands homebuyer tax credit

November 04, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) today announced Senate passage of the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act of 2009, which she co-sponsored. The legislation will extend long-term unemployment benefits in Michigan by 20 weeks. This bill also provides tax refunds to businesses that have been hit by the economic recession, and extends and expands the successful first-time homebuyer tax credit.    » read more »

Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act helps struggling Americans, first-time homebuyers and grows the economy

Washington, D.C. -- November 4, 2009 -- Today, Senator Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) commented on the passage of the Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act. The bill provides 14 weeks of additional Federal-State Unemployment Insurance Program (UI) benefits to all states. In addition, it provides another six weeks of benefits to recipients in states such as Pennsylvania where unemployment exceeds 8.5 percent. The bill passed the Senate unanimously.    » read more »