Under the Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the pace of job loss has declined dramatically in recent months. However, because the recession was so deep, it will take more time to completely reverse the more than 6.9 million jobs lost since the beginning of the recession in 2007. Long-term unemployment has hit its highest rate since measuring began in 1948, with 5 million Americans out of work for more than six months. Over 300,000 jobless workers are expected to run out of unemployment compensation by the end of September. Therefore, Congress is taking action to provide up to an additional 13 weeks of extended unemployment benefits in states with high unemployment, where it is much more difficult for people to find new jobs, despite months of searching.

Click here to read more about how this legislation will help ensure that Americans will be able to continue providing for their families and boosting the economy.