New York, NY – Rep. Carolyn Maloney (NY-12) today called for a restoration of emergency unemployment benefits that have expired for 110,000 New Yorkers and 1.3 million nationwide. She was joined by Rep. Jerry Nadler (NY-10), Organizing for Action New York, representatives from New York labor unions and area residents affected by the expiration of benefits.

“Right now, for every job opening in the country there are nearly 3 people looking for a job,” said Congresswoman Maloney. “Even if every one of these jobs is filled tomorrow, there would still be far too many left without a job. The right way to reduce reliance on unemployment insurance is to create jobs – not cut benefits. These are hardworking Americans who have fallen on hard times and they need our support. 

"Cutting this emergency support is not only cruel and callous, it's also foolish. Federal unemployment insurance is one of the most effective ways to boost our economy and create the very jobs we're hoping these people will fill, according to most economists. Congress must take immediate action to restore these benefits.”

“Unfortunately, the Republican leadership of the House of Representatives shamefully ended unemployment insurance for 1.3 million Americans, including 127,100 New Yorkers, who are currently looking for work,” said Congressman Nadler. “Extending unemployment insurance is the right thing to do for our hard working families and it is the right thing to do for our nation’s economy. It is unconscionable that Republicans continue to block its extension.”

New York State will continue to provide up to 26 weeks of state-funded unemployment insurance, but the federal program, which had been providing an additional 47 weeks of coverage, has expired. Extending emergency unemployment benefits through the end of 2014 will lead to an estimated 200,000 jobs and a fifth of a point of additional economic growth. The unemployment rate in New York City is still 8.6 percent.

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