WASHINGTON, D.C.—On Tuesday, December 17, 2013, at 11:00 a.m., Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) spoke at the Puerto Rican Association for Human Development (PRAHD) in Perth Amboy, NJ about the importance of unemployment benefits for out-of-work New Jerseyans. Congressman Pallone discussed the urgent need to renew the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program, which provides up to 47 weeks of federally funded unemployment assistance, and is set to expire on December 28, 2013. Pallone called on Speaker of the House John Boehner to reconvene the House of Representatives to extend this critical lifeline to the long-term unemployed.
“It is unacceptable that the budget deal agreed to in the House last week did not include an extension of federal unemployment insurance,” said Congressman Pallone. “1.3 million Americans—and 90,000 New Jerseyans—should not be wondering how they will make ends meet this holiday season. Republicans are giving job seekers across the country a lump of coal in their stocking this year by turning their back on those who need assistance the most.”
Last week, Congressman Pallone, along with 176 House Democrats, sent a letter to Speaker Boehner urging him not to adjourn the House of Representatives for the year without extending vital unemployment insurance that is set to expire during the holidays, immediately cutting off aid to 1.3 million Americans. An additional 1.9 million Americans will lose their benefits in the first half of 2014 as their 26 weeks of state benefits run out.
The EUC program, authorized by Congress in 2008, has provided crucial support to the economy and to millions of Americans who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. The EUC program provides up to 47 weeks of federally funded unemployment benefits when job seekers exhaust their 26 weeks of state administered aid.
Founded in 1974, the Puerto Rican Association for Human Development (PRAHD) aims to improve the social, economic, health and educational status of the surrounding community. Since its founding, the agency has grown and expanded to become a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) certified comprehensive social service agency. PRAHD operates 16 programs that offer a wide range of services to more than 17,000 clients throughout Middlesex, Essex, Union, Monmouth and Ocean counties.
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