Hoyer Meets with Constituents Assisted By Unemployment Insurance
WALDORF, MD– Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) met with constituents who are assisted by unemployment insurance at Southern Maryland JobSource to discuss how unemployment insurance has helped them make ends meet while they search for employment. Emergency unemployment insurance ended for 1.3 million Americans on December 28th, and an estimated 72,000 job seekers across the country will continue to lose emergency unemployment insurance each week Congress fails to renew the program.
"On December 28th, 22,900 Marylanders were suddenly cut off from receiving the assistance of emergency unemployment insurance," said Congressman Hoyer. "By letting this emergency insurance expire, Congress has failed to heed its responsibility to protect the most vulnerable from the risk of falling into poverty, and for as long as Congress fails to renew this safety net, over 1,000 Marylanders will lose this insurance every week. With the long-term unemployed still facing a tough job market, it is unacceptable and reckless to cut off emergency unemployment insurance."
"I thank my constituents for joining me today to share how unemployment insurance is helping them put food on the table and pay their bills while they continue to search for work," continued Congressman Hoyer. "I will not rest until this assistance is restored, and I sincerely hope that Republicans and Democrats can work together to turn this emergency assistance back on for those who need it to make ends meet while they work hard to find their next jobs."
There are nearly 4 million Americans who have been out of work for 26 weeks or longer, and Congress has never cut off emergency unemployment insurance when the number has been even half of that figure. House Democrats introduced a three month extension earlier this month, but the House Republican leadership, who control which bills come to the House Floor for a vote, have not allowed a vote on the bill. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that our economy could lose 200,000 jobs if unemployment insurance is not extended.
Southern Maryland Job Source is one of the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation's One Stop Career Centers, which provide a full range of assistance to job seekers and businesses. For more information, click here.