Nearly 18,000 unemployed Pennsylvanians scheduled to exhaust benefits this week could receive an immediate federally funded economic boost if the Senate takes action Monday.

“By holding up this bill, the Senate is denying tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians benefits they need to put food on the table,” Governor Rendell said. “If the Senate doesn’t act on Monday, unemployment benefits for nearly 18,000 people will stop.

“Through December, nearly 60,000 people could receive the additional seven weeks of benefits with no additional costs to businesses. This bill will put money in people’s pockets and put $145 million into the economy this year,” the Governor said.

House Bill 1770, which passed the House July 7 by a vote of 197 to 1, adds a temporary seven-week extension of unemployment compensation benefits. The federal government covers 100 percent of the cost of extended benefits paid to former employees of private sector and not-for-profit employers.

At least 29 other states have acted responsibly to adopt similar legislation. Because it is federally funded, this bill will have no impact on the state’s Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund.

Currently, Pennsylvanians out of work through no fault of their own can receive up to 72 weeks of unemployment benefits.

Posted: 07|19|09 at 11:22 am. Filed under: News.