Statement on the Senate Unemployment Insurance Extension Vote

Washington, DC – After today’s vote in the Senate advanced a measure to extend unemployment insurance for Americans who are still looking for work, DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz released the following statement:

“Thanks to the leadership of Senate Democrats, we’ve taken the first step to restoring crucial benefits to millions of Americans who are still looking for work. Unfortunately, the majority of Senate Republicans opposed this extension and made it clear that they care more about adhering to their party’s rigid ideology than helping the unemployed get back on their feet. The GOP’s opposition to this extension in December has already drained over $400 million from state economies and could cost our economy 240,000 jobs this year.

“This was an important first step, but for the majority of Republicans this was yet another example of the GOP failing to support policies that grow the middle class. From opposing a minimum wage increase to refusing to expand Medicaid, they continue to put partisan obstruction ahead of what’s best for the nation’s economy and their constituents. The more than one million Americans who have already lost their unemployment benefits since late December deserve better.

“We must pass this bipartisan extension so that we can once again focus on expanding opportunities for the middle class and creating jobs for all Americans.”