Rep. Vargas Joins Effort to Extend Emergency Unemployment Insurance
WASHINGTON, DC (March 12, 2014) – Today, Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-51) took action to force a vote on critical legislation that would extend unemployment insurance for more than 2 million Americans who have lost their benefits. Rep. Vargas joined his colleagues in signing a discharge petition to bring up H.R. 3546, the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act, introduced by Rep. Sander Levin (MI-9). The bill extends emergency unemployment insurance through the end of the year for nearly 5 million Americans looking for work.
“Congress can no longer wait to act on unemployment insurance. The financial hardship suffered by more than 2 million Americans, including 340,000 Californians, who have lost unemployment compensation continues to grow,” said Rep. Vargas. “Congress must restore this vital economic lifeline that helps hard working people support their families and pay their bills while they look for work.”
The number of people who have lost their unemployment benefits since the program’s December 28, 2013 expiration surpassed two million last week, according to a new analysis from House Ways and Means Committee Democrats. Every week, 72,000 people, on average, are losing their unemployment benefits nationwide without an extension of the program.
“I am optimistic that today’s extraordinary step to force a vote on extending emergency employment insurance to support families and grow our local economy will succeed,” concluded Rep. Vargas.
Vargas represents California’s 51st Congressional District which includes the southern portion of San Diego County, all of Imperial County and California’s entire US/Mexico border. Vargas is currently serving his first term in Congress. He represented the 40th California State Senate District from 2010-2012, the 79th California State Assembly District from 2000 – 2006 and served on the San Diego City Council from 1993 – 2000.