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Monday, December 30, 2013

Another big tear in the net

Congress Enjoys Holidays As Unemployed Lose Safety Net
euc GONEWashington, D.C. – As 1.3 million Americans faced the loss of unemployment security at Midnight, Friday December 28th, members of Congress are off enjoying the holidays until January 6.
Yes, December 28 marked expiration of the 2008 Federal Extended Unemployment Insurance (UI) program, a safety net for the nation’s long-term unemployed workers who have exhausted their original 26 weeks UI benefits.

While the nation’s long-termed unemployed already struggling to keep their homes, feed their families and pay bills face a New Year absent extended benefits, the Senate is not scheduled to reconvene to consider a bill for short-term extension until January 6.

The Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (RIDLT) recommended in a pre-holiday mailing that individuals receiving extended unemployment compensation benefits (EUC) continue to request weekly benefits in the event Congress achieves a favorable resolution in 2014.

The loss of benefits, impacting more than 6,000 Rhode Islanders means an immediate end to income supplements at a time when the state is still seeing 9 percent unemployment, increased utility rates and colder temperatures.

Rhode Island joins Nevada at the top of the pile, in carrying the highest unemployment numbers in the country.


Farm Bill Unresolved - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in Jeopardy

no foodFailure of the 113th Congress to cooperatively legislate continuation of the 2008 Farm Bill served as an additional slight to the millions of Americans who currently rely on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) benefits for food security. A double-whammy to many families reliant on both support programs, polarity in proposed cuts to SNAP had House and Senate at a $36 billion impasse.

Headed by House Agriculture Committee Chairman, Frank D. Lucas (R-Okla.), the 41 member Farm Bill committee failed to close the gap on food security programs, with Republican members focused on painting a picture of a flawed government program riddled with fraud and entitlement deficiencies.


To read the rest of the article, please click here to go to Tracey’s website.