New Hampshire’s two U.S. Senators voted today to advance a temporary extension of long-term unemployment benefits.
Democrat Jeanne Shaheen and Republican Kelly Ayotte were among the 60 Senators to support formal debate of a three-month extension of the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program.
The benefits expired last week for more than one million Americans, including 1,350 out-of-work New Hampshire residents.
Shaheen says the program provides a "critical lifeline to New Hampshire families struggling to make ends meet while people look for jobs."
Ayotte says while she sympathizes with Granite Staters struggling to find work, any temporary extension should be paid for in a responsible manner.
It’s estimated the proposed extension would cost roughly $6.4 billion.