U.S. House of Representatives Approves Measure to Extend Benefits for 13 Weeks

The U.S. House of Representatives voted 331-83 to approve a measure extending unemployment benefits for 13 weeks. The Senate is expected to follow suit in short order.

The measure affects 300,000 families in 27 states where the official (grossly underestimated) unemployment rate is 8.5 percent or higher. Combined with previous extensions, the maximum benefit period is now up to 92 weeks in those states.

Long-term unemployment (defined as being unemployed for at least 27 weeks) is at an all-time high of 34 percent. Without this measure, it is estimated that 1 million people would lose their benefits without finding work by the end of this year.

Nationally, the official (grossly underestimated) unemployment rate stands at 9.7 percent.