Reps. Bieda, Adamini, Dennis, Elkins, Farrah, Gillard, Hopgood, Hunter, Kolb, Lipsey, Minore, Murphy, Paletko, Sak, Sheltrown, Spade, Tobocman, Vagnozzi, Woronchak, Law and McConico offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 41.

            A resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act of 2003.

            Whereas, In the wake of the tragedy of September 11, 2001, the international situation overall and the economic impact of all of these factors, the global economy is suffering through its most difficult period in many years.  The impact is being felt acutely in state capitals and city halls across the country, but the true impact of the economic downturn is most directly felt by the thousands of men and women who, through no fault of their own, face the devastation of unemployment; and

            Whereas, The President signed legislation in January 2003 to reinstate temporary unemployment benefits that had expired at the end of 2002.  However, this measure does not provide adequate help to the more than one million workers who have exhausted their unemployment benefits and are still unable to find work.  These families face severe hardship.  For them, every extension of unemployment compensation is of the utmost importance; and

            Whereas, Extending benefits for those who have exhausted benefits, a strategy that has been used in prior downturns, utilizes funds set aside for this purpose.  As our country tries to revive the economy, extending unemployment compensation benefits by an additional 26 weeks, which the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act of 2003, H.R. 17, currently before Congress would do, could be an effective stimulus; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act of 2003; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.