U.S. Senate passes unemployment insurance extension

The U.S. Senate voted Monday to approve a bipartisan compromise to restore emergency unemployment insurance benefits for more than 2 million long-term unemployed American, including as many as 20,000 Virginians, according to some estimates.

The measure will restore benefits that expired in December 2013.

Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine both voted in favor of the measure.

“I strongly urge members of the House to come to the table to find a bipartisan solution so we can get this temporary assistance into the hands of Virginia job seekers,” Warner said. “The Senate legislation is responsible and bipartisan, and it provides a lifeline to thousands of Virginians who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own and need this temporary assistance to make ends meet while they continue looking for work.”

“Supporting Americans as they search for work is not only the right thing to do; it strengthens our economy and creates jobs,” Kaine, D-Va., said. “I applaud my colleagues for coming together on this important issue and hope this spirit of bipartisanship prevails as we continue to do all we can to help these Americans get back to work.”