Kildee Votes to Extend Unemployment Benefits and to Ensure that the Spirit of the GI Bill is Revived

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Dale E. Kildee (D-MI) today supported an amendment to H.R. 2642 that could fuel Michigan’s economic recovery and provide extended unemployment benefits for jobseekers across the country. Kildee met one of his top legislative priorities to stimulate the economy in extending unemployment benefits for up to 26 weeks in Michigan. The same measure also restored education benefits to veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“One in six unemployed workers nationally have been without a job for more than 26 weeks, and in Michigan where workers have been the victim of harsh trade agreements, Washington must pay closer attention,” said Kildee. “Michigan job hunters will find relief with an additional 26 weeks to find a good-paying job.”

While unemployment benefits are normally available for up to 26 weeks, the amendment would provide up to 13 weeks of extended unemployment benefits. However, in states like Michigan with higher levels of unemployment, an additional 13 weeks would be available, for a total of 26 weeks of extended benefits.

To ensure that veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan have a better opportunity to find good work on their return to civilian life, the House of Representatives today voted to increase GI education benefits to the level available after World War II. The new GI bill restores full, four-year college scholarships to veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and will help to make them integral to economic recovery as were the veterans of World War II.

“For the cost of what we spend in Iraq in two days, we can fund the first two years of this program. We are giving our returning troops the tools to succeed after their service and making military service more attractive as we work to rebuild the military, and strengthen our economy,” said Kildee.