07/23/2010 Unemployment Extension Legislation Finally Passes, Signed Into Law

President Barack Obama signed legislation into law on Thursday, July 22, that will provide a six-month extension of jobless benefits for the unemployed. The legislation restores aid to nearly 3 million people whose checks have been cut off since the program expired in early June.

President Obama signed the legislation less than three hours after the House of Representatives approved the $34 billion measure with a vote of 272 to 152. The Senate had previously passed the measure on July 21st after months of dispute over the legislation.

The bill will revive a program that provides up to 99 weeks of income support to unemployed individuals who have lost their jobs in the recession. Benefit checks in some states are expected to go out quickly while some may have to wait several weeks.

The extension was first introduced in an almost $200 billion package of economic measures, which included fresh aid to state governments and an extension of health insurance subsidies for the unemployed. However, Republicans and conservative Democrats fought the legislation saying it needed to be scaled back.

To read an article on the legislation from the Washington Post, click here.