Senate negotiators have reached a bipartisan deal on a measure to extend expired long-term unemployment insurance benefits to more than two million Americans.
The deal between a group of ten senators would extend the jobless aid for five months and allow retroactive payments to beneficiaries going back to December 28 of last year.
'We're not at the finish line yet, but this is a bipartisan breakthrough,' said lead negotiator Sen. Jack Reed, D-RI, in a statement.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told reporters Thursday that he intends to take up the measure after lawmakers return from a week-long recess set to begin on Friday.
The jobless aid expired at the end of last year, after lawmakers failed to forge a compromise on whether to pay for the aid and how long the extension should be.
The legislation would have to pass the Democratic-led Senate and then the GOP-controlled House before becoming law.
Expand Bio
{ 0 comments... Views All / Send Comment! }
Post a Comment