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WHEREAS, the Great Recession, which began in 2007, was the largest economic downturn in the United States since the Great Depression, and left millions of Americans out of work; and
WHEREAS, today, our economy still has fewer jobs available than when the recession began. American companies have moved factories overseas, and outsourced countless jobs that have not been replaced; and
WHEREAS, over the past five years nearly 69 million Americans have relied on Federal unemployment benefits to help pay bills and feed their families; and
WHEREAS, the federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation program was created on June 30, 2008, and extended in 2012, to provide relief for struggling families who have exhausted regular state benefits; and
WHEREAS, three days after Christmas, the federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation program is set to expire, which would leave many job-seeking Americans without a vital safety net to help them through these tough economic times; and
WHEREAS, this program has also helped keep billions of dollars circulating through the economy, creating much-needed jobs for others. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that if the program were to be extended through next year, it would create an additional 200,000 jobs, moving our country closer to a full recovery; and
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh stands with the millions of unemployed Americans and their families, as we continue to struggle with tough economic times; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh supports extending the federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation program, and calls upon the members of Pennsylvania's Congressional Delegation to take action immediately; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Will of Council shall be circulated to the President of the United States, the U.S. Senate, and the U.S. House of Representatives.