Times Staff Reports
U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Ind., voted with a large bipartisan majority Thursday to extend unemployment benefits past the usual time period.
The Emergency Extended Unemployment Act would tack as many as 13 extra weeks of unemployment benefits to the current 26-week benefit period. People in states with high unemployment could qualify to add another 13 weeks to that total.
The bill passed 274 to 137. The bill next goes to the Senate. President Bush opposes the bill.
Visclosky said Northwest Indiana residents "enjoy putting in a hard day's work."
"People who want to work and contribute to our economy deserve assistance when they are out of work and unable to find a new job," Visclosky said.
