Civil Rights Coalition Urges Immediate Extension of Unemployment Insurance and COBRA Benefits

The Leadership Conference is urging the Senate to immediately extend unemployment insurance (UI) benefits and COBRA subsidies through the end of 2010. The current extension expires at the end of February.

Neither the jobs bill that passed the House of Representatives last December, nor the pending Senate bill, extend these benefits until the end of the year.  Advocates say that the previous short-term extensions do not adequately address the realities faced by jobless workers in today’s economy. 

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid stated today that he hopes to pass a 30-day extension this week and is in further talks with GOP Leader Mitch McConnell about a year-long extension, among other jobs-related matters.

There are more than 26 million unemployed Americans who cannot afford to be cut off from these vital lifelines. Minorities and older Americans are disproportionately affected as they are more likely to be unemployed longer.

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