LANSING, Mich.- Senate Democrats again called for action on the House-passed unemployment modernization legislation today following the announcement that the state's unemployment rate reached 15.2% for June, the highest it’s been in 26 years. Passing this legislation would not only help Michigan's unemployed workers, but it would also enable the state to receive $138.9 million from federal funds to do so.

“More and more Michigan families are struggling each month to find work, save their homes, pay their bills and feed their families,” said Senator Tupac A. Hunter (D-Detroit). “We need to extend our workers a lifeline while they pursue training and try to reenter the workforce, and we have the opportunity to secure $140 million in federal funds to do just that. There's no reason why we shouldn’t pass these bills as soon as possible.”

House Bill 4785 would allow individuals enrolled in a state-approved jobs training program to receive unemployment insurance benefits for an extra 26 weeks. House Bill 4786 would allow individuals working between 16 and 40 hours per week to become eligible for unemployment insurance benefits beginning after January 1, 2011. Senators Hunter and Deb Cherry (D-Burton) have introduced identical Senate bills that have also not been acted upon by the Republican Majority.

The House passed their two-bill unemployment modernization package on May 6, but the bills have gathered dust in the Senate Committee on Commerce and Tourism for more than two months since. Last month, Senate Democrats forced a vote on the bills, but it failed on a party line vote. Senate Democrats continue to fight for passage of the bills and recently launched a website calling for action on this plan that twenty-seven other states have already approved to receive the funding allocated to them. The site, www.senate.michigan.gov/dem/helpmiworkers, encourages visitors to sign a petition and contact Republican Senators to demand support for the legislation.

# # #