Pelosi Responds to Governors’ Bipartisan Letter Urging House to Renew UI

San Francisco – Today, Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi replied to a bipartisan letter from the Governor of Rhode Island, Lincoln D. Chafee, and the Governor of Nevada, Brian Sandoval, urging the House to act swiftly to extend emergency unemployment insurance. In her response, Leader Pelosi reiterated Democrats' continuing work to renew this essential lifeline in the face of relentless obstruction by House Republicans, decrying Republicans' refusal to act as "callous, shortsighted and immoral."

"It is unconscionable that the House has not acted to renew emergency unemployment insurance," wrote Leader Pelosi. "Never before has Congress allowed emergency unemployment insurance to expire while long-term unemployment rates have remained so high."

The governors' letter, addressed to Speaker Boehner and Leader Pelosi, expressed strong support for the bipartisan legislation to extend emergency unemployment compensation passed out of the Senate last week. Democrats' discharge petition on House legislation on emergency unemployment insurance has been signed by 193 members. Despite this, and the fact that more than 2.4 million Americans have been cut off from this critical economic support, Republicans continue to block the House from considering any and all legislation to renew emergency unemployment insurance.

Below is the full text of the letter:

April 17, 2014

The Honorable Lincoln D. Chafee The Honorable Brian Sandoval

Governor, State of Rhode Island Governor, State of Nevada

Office of the Governor State Capitol Building

82 Smith Street 101 North Carson Street

Providence, Rhode Island 02903 Carson City, Nevada 89701

Dear Governor Chafee and Governor Sandoval:

I have received your letter of April 11 expressing your support for the bipartisan measure to renew emergency unemployment insurance overwhelmingly passed out of the Senate last week.

As of today, more than 2.4 million Americans have been cut off from the emergency unemployment insurance they rely on to see their families through the crisis of long-term unemployment. Every week, another 72,000 Americans join their ranks – men and woman who worked hard, played by the rules, and lost their jobs through no fault of their own.

These Americans and their families are only just holding on by their fingernails, struggling to feed their families, pay their bills, and stay in their homes. Many of them are unemployed veterans who were willing to sacrifice everything to keep our nation safe, and who are now finding this essential economic lifeline evaporate in their hour of need.

It is unconscionable that the House has not acted to renew emergency unemployment insurance. But as you know, House Republicans have blocked the House from considering this desperately needed legislation each and every time Democrats have moved to hold a vote.

Never before has Congress allowed emergency unemployment insurance to expire while long-term unemployment rates have remained so high. Failure to restore this lynchpin of economic security for the long-term unemployed is costing us 240,000 jobs this year alone. House Republicans' refusal to extend emergency unemployment insurance is callous, shortsighted and immoral.

House Democrats will continue to push for a vote to extend emergency unemployment insurance, and to advance the bipartisan Senate legislation in the House. Your bipartisan letter, together with those from other governors, and the countless letters from Americans reeling from the loss of their unemployment insurance, reminds us just how critical this work is.

Thank you for your support in this effort, and I look forward to working with you to pass this vital bipartisan legislation as soon as possible.

best regards,

NANCY PELOSI

Democratic Leader

cc: The Honorable John A. Boehner, Speaker of the House