THIS IS A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OFFICE OF UNITED STATES SENATOR ROBERT BYRD.

Washington, DC – Senator Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.), the Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement today in response to reports that the unemployment rate increased from 5 percent to 5.5 percent – the highest one month jump in unemployment in more that two decades, and reaching the highest level since October 2004:

“This extraordinary jump in the unemployment rate begs for a government response. More and more Americans are already finding it extremely difficult to make ends meet with soaring gasoline and food prices and mortgage foreclosure problems. Add this surge to the burden of people losing their jobs in the manufacturing, construction and retail industries and it becomes readily apparent that we as elected officials must move forward quickly to address the plight of struggling Americans.”

“On May 22, by an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 75-22, the Senate approved a domestic funding amendment to the war supplemental which includes a provision to extend unemployment benefits by 13 weeks for all workers nationwide and provides an additional 13 weeks for workers in high-unemployment states.”

“I strongly encourage the House of Representatives to pass this extension of unemployment benefits as supported by the Senate and for the Bush Administration to signal its willingness to help those struggling in this sagging economy by supporting this measure as well and not just issuing another veto threat. If this Administration can support pumping billions into aiding Iraq, clearly it would be the right thing to do to come to the aid of those struggling on American soil.”