Smith Legislation Would Fix Emergency Unemployment Formula to Benefit Oregonians
Legislation Builds on Smith Bill to Extend Unemployment Compensation
WASHINGTON, D.C.– Today, Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR) introduced legislation to change the formula used to determine emergency unemployment benefits so that Oregonians can continue receiving compensation designated for states with high unemployment rates.
"The fact that we need this legislation is unfortunate in itself," Smith said. "I'm optimistic that the economy is on an upswing with more jobs being created, but we still need to protect Oregon families who have fallen on hard times."
Under normal economic conditions, workers who lose their jobs receive state unemployment benefits for 26 weeks. The federal Temporary Emergency Unemployment Compensation (TUEC) program currently provides them with an additional 13 weeks of benefits. On top of that, workers in states with high unemployment rates are eligible for another 13 weeks of compensation. State eligibility for these extended "high unemployment" benefits begins when the unemployment rate is at least 10 percent higher than it was two years earlier. Because Oregon's jobless rate has been among the highest in the nation for more than two years, Oregonians will not be eligible for these extended benefits after December 31, 2003.
The legislation Smith introduced today would simply remove the 10 percent requirement. Last week, Representative Greg Walden (R-OR) introduced similar legislation in the House of Representatives. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) is cosponsoring the Smith bill.
On November 7, 2003, Smith introduced the Workers Assistance Extension Act (S. 1839) to extend unemployment benefits that will expire on December 31, 2003. The bill extends the current unemployment insurance program through June 30, 2004, with a phase out until September 30, 2004. The legislation will allow dislocated workers to receive 13 weeks of benefits in all states and an additional 13 weeks for workers who live in states with high unemployment rates.
In October of 2001, Smith introduced the Temporary Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act of 2001, which was signed into law in February 2002. In addition, Smith introduced unemployment extension legislation in September 2002, January 2003, and April 2003.
