WHEREAS:

In March, two million Americans were jobless for more than 26 weeks, and there now are almost two million fewer jobs than when President Bush took office; and

WHEREAS:

There are 8.4 million Americans unemployed and approximately 4.7 million additional workers who want jobs are discouraged and not counted among the unemployed; and

WHEREAS:

Congress first enacted the Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) program in March, 2002 to provide workers exhausting their basic 26 weeks of state unemployment benefits an additional 13 weeks of federal unemployment benefits; and

WHEREAS:

Congress passed and the president signed legislation in 2003 to continue the TEUC program through December 2003; and

WHEREAS:

Majorities in both the House and Senate have cast symbolic votes in favor of continuing the TEUC program and Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan has expressed his support for an extension, but President Bush has failed to take the lead in calling for a continuation of the TEUC program; and

WHEREAS:

An estimated 1.1 million jobless workers exhausted their basic state benefits at the end of March; and

WHEREAS:

In no other comparable period since 1971 have so many workers exhausted their state unemployment benefits without finding work.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That AFSCME calls on President Bush to change his position and seek an extension of the TEUC program and on Congress to pass such legislation immediately.

SUBMITTED BY:

Douglas Moore, President and Delegate
AFSCME Local 1632, Council 8
Ohio