SR0684 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0684 LRB096 21460 MJR 37966 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are deeply concerned about the impact of unemployment on the citizens of the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, There are over 15,000 Illinoisans whose unemployment benefits ended on March 1, 2010 when the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives did not pass an extension; and

WHEREAS, The latest statistics from the United States Department of Labor show that Illinois has an unemployment rate of 11.1%; and

WHEREAS, During these tough economic times, qualified people cannot find work because many businesses are not hiring and the pool of candidates is too large; and

WHEREAS, Unemployment does not just effect the person who has been laid off, but it affects families as well, forcing them to not only exhaust their savings, but also forces them to rely on credit to pay bills; and

WHEREAS, During this economic crisis, these extended benefits have been the lifeline allowing people to continue to feed their families and stay in their homes; and

WHEREAS, A filibuster by United States Senator Jim Bunning (R-KY) is blocking a vote in the United States Senate that would extend these benefits nationwide for people who have exhausted their basic 26 weeks of coverage; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the United States Congress to pass this extension for unemployment benefits; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and the Majority Leader of the United States Senate.