Governor Andrew Cuomo recently signed into law a measure extending federally-funded unemployment insurance benefits through 2011. Without this new law, the state would not be able to continue to pay a total of 93 weeks of benefits and would have forfeited $620 million in federal payments to the unemployed, negatively impacting approximately 166,000 New Yorkers, Cuomo said.
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“This measure will ensure out-of-work New Yorkers will continue to have a federally-funded safety net to help them weather this prolonged economic downturn,” Governor Cuomo said. “Re-entering the workforce can be daunting and time consuming. This law provides basic relief for the thousands of job-hunters across the state.”
Senator Joseph Robach, sponsor of the Governor’s bill, said, “I am glad that quick legislative action has allowed us to access federal funds to assist those on unemployment during these challenging economic times. Hopefully, the economy will improve with more private-sector jobs and relief for all.”