Economic recovery funding on the way for Nevadans struggling to find work

June 5, 2009

Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid and Representatives Shelley Berkley and Dina Titus today announced more than $25 million in additional unemployment insurance funds acquired through the economic recovery package. The money is now approved for release by the Department of Labor.

The delegation members worked to include this important assistance for the Silver State, and Nevada qualified for the unemployment insurance modernization incentive money through a recent change to state law that allows workers to use their more recent earnings to become eligible for benefits.

The money can be used for basic unemployment benefits or for administrative costs of the program if specifically provided for by the state.

“The economic recovery package we passed is designed to put people back to work as soon as possible, especially in Nevada where unemployment is at a record high,” Reid said. “At the same time, we need to take care of the families being impacted by job loss by extending unemployment benefits to as many qualified people as possible. By bringing people with less work history into the fold, we are taking care of an important group of Nevadans and hopefully easing their burden while we work to get our state economy back on the right track.”

“Families coping with the loss of a paycheck should not have to also live in fear that their unemployment benefits are going to suddenly disappear, leaving them unable to pay the bills or keep food on the table,” Berkley said. “Las Vegas and communities across the U.S. continue to experience elevated unemployment rates and this funding will provide additional financial resources so that states like Nevada can continue to provide benefits to qualified residents who are in search of jobs. Unemployment compensation can mean the difference between a family going hungry and having enough to eat. And these dollars largely stay in our community, where they act as an additional stimulus to our local economy. This is welcome news for Nevadans at a time when our state’s budget is already stretched to the limit and I applaud the release of these vital funds.”

“Today’s announcement that Nevada will receive more than $25 million to help workers who have lost their job and are struggling to make ends meet is much-needed and welcomed news,” Titus said. “This money will make a real difference in the lives of so many Nevadans at a time when unemployment in the state is at a 25-year high. With the passage of the recovery bill, this Congress took bold action in an effort to turn our economy around and we are working to reverse the failed policies that got us into this recession. While this effort will not happen overnight, I will continue fighting each and every day to create jobs and get Nevadans back to work.”