Governor de Jongh today hailed the passage of federal legislation to restore unemployment pay for those who have exhausted standard benefits provided by the federal government. 

The legislation had languished in the two houses of Congress since May amidst a fierce political battle between Democrats and Republicans and over those six weeks, benefits had ran out for an estimated two million Americans without jobs. 

“I am pleased to see that Congressional leaders from both sides of the aisle came together and resolved their differences over whether the cost of this bill should be offset with spending cuts or tax increases to avoid enlarging the federal deficit,” the governor said.

De Jongh explained that now that President Obama has signed the bill into law, approximately 260 regular unemployment claimants in the Virgin Islands may be eligible to collect an additional twenty weeks of retroactive benefits totaling over $533,000 while another 367 claimants may be eligible to collect an additional thirteen weeks in the amount of almost $733,000. “The passage of this legislation means that 627 claimants and their families will be able to meet some of their most basic needs with the $1.25 million that will circulate in our economy,” de Jongh said. “These are extremely difficult, and quite frankly stressful times, for many and any level of certainty that can be provided as we all adjust to this unsettling economic environment is welcome news,” he added.

The governor said that many Virgin Islanders who are without work would benefit from this federally funded legislation especially at a time when many in the private sector have had to incur layoffs due to the global economic recession. “Our unemployment rate at 7.9% is below the national level, but there are seasonal factors that can possibly negatively impact us later in the year,” Labor Commissioner Albert Bryan said Monday. “The Virgin Islands Department of Labor, which has recently implemented over $ 1 million in federally funded upgrades, will be prepared to render assistance to affected Virgin Islanders once these unemployment insurance monies become available. We anticipate a smooth transition to the reinstatement of benefits and checks should be processed without delay,” Bryan noted.