Obama Signs Unemployment Extension Bill to Law

Two days ago, the Unemployment Extension bill was passed. Today, Obama signs unemployment extension bill into law. “Americans who are fighting to find a good job and support their families will finally get the support they need to get back on their feet during these tough economic times,” Obama said in a statement issued after signing the measure.

Here’s the statement from Representative Levin (D-MI) about the newly signed legislation:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House of Representatives today approved H.R. 4851 the Continuing Extension Act of 2010 by a vote of 289-112. The legislation extends critical unemployment and health care benefits, ensures that Medicare beneficiaries can continue seeing their doctors and extends other programs which expired. H.R. 4851 will now be sent to President Obama for his signature into law.

“As we speak, there are twice the number of long-term unemployed compared to any other time on record before this recession,” said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Sander M. Levin (D-MI).“Extending unemployment benefits has traditionally been a strong bipartisan effort, yet today some Republicans are claiming that their opposition is rooted in concern about the deficit. They seem to have discovered fiscal responsibility when it comes time to extend unemployment benefits but not when it came to paying for tax cuts for the rich and the Iraq war. These benefits are too important to American families to just say ‘no.’

“Holding hundreds of thousands of unemployed Americans hostage to score political points is reprehensible. I am glad we overcame this political gamesmanship to send this bill to President Obama for his signature.”