Senate Republicans Propose Massive Cut to Federal Unemployment Payments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

July 27, 2020

Senate Republicans Propose Massive Cut to Federal Unemployment Payments

Tillis, Burr Must Reject GOP Plan to Cut Unemployment By $400 Per Week

Raleigh, N.C. - Earlier today, news broke that Senate Republicans are proposing replacing $600 weekly federal unemployment payments with just $200 per week, a massive $400 per week cut for recipients. This comes after Senate Republicans failed to act on an extension last week and allowed $600 weekly federal unemployment payments to completely expire over the weekend. Because Senate Republicans allowed federal unemployment insurance to completely expire, average weekly payments in North Carolina will drop from $877 to just $277 until Congress takes further action.

In May, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the HEROES Act, an aid package that would extend $600 unemployment payments through the end of the year.

Piedmont Rising Executive Director Casey Wilkinson made the following statement:

“First, Senator Tillis and Senator Burr failed North Carolina by allowing federal unemployment payments to expire over the weekend, putting hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians at financial risk just a few days before rent is due. Now, their Senate Republican allies are proposing an outrageous plan to give struggling North Carolinians a $400 per week pandemic pay cut that will make it impossible for many families to afford housing, health care, and food. Instead of playing political games with North Carolinians’ economic security, Tillis and Burr should reject this plan and commit to fully extend $600 federal unemployment payments.”

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