Today, Rep.Yvette D. Clarke voted to stimulate the local economy and provide stability to American families hit hardest by the recession by extending unemployment benefits, the homebuyers’ tax credit, and tax relief for military families and businesses. The Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act will provide immediate assistance, extending relief to millions of workers, families, and businesses nationwide.

“This is another crucial step to provide immediate relief to struggling New Yorkers who have lost, or are on the verge of losing, their unemployment benefits and get our economy moving in the right direction,” Rep. Clarke said. “The families who receive these benefits will be putting money right back into our local economy – buying groceries, filling their cars with gas, and making their mortgage payments on time.”

The extension is fully paid for and will provide immediate, effective stimulus to the local economy. According to Moody’s chief Economist, every dollar spent on unemployment benefits generates $1.63 in new demand.

The legislation will provide families in all states with 14 weeks of additional benefits, and six more weeks to the 27 states with the highest unemployment rates – where it is most difficult for workers to find employment. Workers in these high unemployment states who have exhausted or will soon exhaust their benefits will be eligible for a total of 20 additional weeks of emergency unemployment compensation.

“This legislation takes important, immediate steps to help stabilize our small businesses and strengthen our housing market,” stated Rep. Clarke. “These efforts are crucial to growing our economy and putting it back on sound footing.”

The bill includes an extension of the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit through April 30, 2010 and provides a $6,500 credit to new purchasers who have lived in their current residence for five years or more. It also helps military families struggling to make mortgage payments by making those payments tax-exempt.

“While we continue working to turn this economy around, this extension will provide much-needed relief to millions of unemployed Americans as they struggle to find work,” concluded Rep. Clarke.

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