Washington, DC- Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) released the following statement today after the U.S. Senate voted (59-38) to extend federal unemployment insurance to June 2014, and authorize benefits retroactively to the program expiration date of December 28, 2013:

“The bipartisan Senate agreement to renew unemployment insurance is a welcome lifeline that will enable more than 75,000 Ohio workers to pay their bills, support their families and look for employment,” said Congresswoman Fudge. “These consumers spend the earned income benefit on essentials that circulate throughout the economy such as housing, food, childcare and gas.”

Unemployment insurance not only improves their personal economies, it boosts the nation’s economy. Failure to extend benefits does the reverse. An estimated $4.7 billion in economic activity was lost in the first three months of 2014 because the House Majority refused to extend unemployment insurance.

“Our nation cannot afford to lose any more time in taking concrete steps to put the long-term unemployed back on their feet. Speaker Boehner must bring the Senate unemployment insurance bill to the House floor for a vote without delay. I urge House Republicans to help the millions of taxpayers who lost their jobs through no fault of their own, and work with Democrats to create good-paying jobs for them.”