Congressman Stephen F. Lynch voted in support of H.R. 4213, the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act which passed the House of Representatives on Thursday, July 22, 2010, by a vote of 272 to 152.  The bill was signed into law by President Obama later that day. 

“There are millions of American workers who, through no fault of their own, have been forced out of jobs during this recession. With the passage of this bill, they will be allowed to receive unemployment benefits,” Congressman Stephen F. Lynch said.  “This is truly a lifeline to those who are out of a job and looking for work.  It is the right thing to do."

The Unemployment Compensation Extension Act will extend unemployment benefits for the long-term unemployed through November 30, 2010.  The extension will apply to those who have not yet exhausted all of their unemployment benefits.  An estimated 2.5 million families lost their benefits when the measure expired under current law in June.  The bill will be retroactive to June 2, 2010 allowing those who lost their benefits when the measure expired to be eligible for retroactive payments.