WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today announced Senate passage of legislation which would provide support for Ohio’s dislocated workers and their families. Included in the Fiscal 2010 Department of Defense Appropriations Act, which passed the Senate today by a vote of 88 to 10, are provisions to extend  the COBRA Premium Assistance Program and authorize the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2009.

“Too many middle class families are struggling to get by,” Brown said. “This legislation will help Ohioans and all Americans who worked hard and played by the rules meet their household needs and get back on track.”

Brown, who supported earlier components of both provisions, praised the bill, which will provide much-needed relief for unemployed Americans. The legislation will next go to President Obama to be signed into law.

COBRA

COBRA allows workers who would otherwise lose employer-sponsored health benefits to stay on their current plan, but they must pay the entire premium, which can make the coverage prohibitively expensive. Brown fought for the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 (ARRA) to include a subsidy enabling dislocated workers and their families to afford health coverage. The ARRA established a nine-month subsidy to help unemployed workers purchase temporary "COBRA" coverage with the federal government covering 65 percent of the premium.

Brown is also the author of the COBRA Subsidy Extension and Enhancement Act (S.2730), which he introduced in November with Sen. Robert P. Casey (D-PA) to extend the COBRA subsidy before its December expiration. In addition, Brown led four of his colleagues in sending a letter to Senate leadership urging an immediate extension of COBRA assistance.

Today’s legislation will increase eligibility in the COBRA Assistance Program to include workers who become unemployed through February of 2010. Under current law, only those laid off within the next two weeks, before the end of the year would be eligible. The provision will also extend the subsidy for everyone currently enrolled in the program an additional six months. In addition, today’s legislation ensures that Americans who were receiving assistance, but whose eligibility expired, will be reimbursed and have the option for re-enrollment.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE

On November 4th, the U.S. Senate passed a bill to provide for an extension of emergency benefits to unemployed workers.  Brown is a cosponsor of the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009, which would extend unemployment insurance by 14 weeks (with an additional six weeks for workers in high unemployment states like Ohio). Today’s legislation changes eligibility for workers who become unemployed through February 2010 so they can receive extended unemployment assistance. In addition, today’s legislation provides funding to ensure workers have access to the additional weeks of assistance.

More information about efforts to extend unemployment insurance can be found here.


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