New York, NY, February 10, 2004—The National Urban League today applauded the House of Representatives decision last Wednesday to authorize funding for a six-month extension of unemployment benefits, and urged the Senate to quickly follow suit. The League called the extension a compassionate \\\'cushion\\\' that will help the estimated 2 million unemployed workers whose benefits have expired and who would have received no assistance over the next six months. Since the end of December some 375,000 unemployed workers have stopped receiving federal temporary extended unemployment benefits, and the number grows by 90,000 each week.

"The House decision is a critical first step that needs to be approved by the Senate," said Marc H. Morial, National Urban League President and CEO. "Until we get our nation working again, the extension serves as an important safety net for America\\\'s most vulnerable families, who would otherwise fall through the economic cracks."

A League report issued in late January, called for the extension of unemployment benefits to help the 70 percent of workers who are dropping off benefit roles because their time has elapsed, not because they are finding other jobs. Minorities represent a higher share of long-term unemployed: 29.5% African Americans versus 21.1 % whites.

The number of people unemployed 27 weeks or more increased by 8,000 between December and January, and the percentage of workers classified as long-term unemployed (27 weeks or longer) increased from 22.3% to 22.7% between December 2003 and January 2004.

Currently some 8.3 million Americans remain unemployed, and about 1.9 million have been jobless for at least six months, the highest such rate in 20 years.