WASHINGTON, D.C. - In an effort to spur action by Senate Republicans, Congressman André Carson today posted on his website a counter showing the running tally of unemployed Americans losing their benefits. He called for Republicans in the Senate to stop blocking important pieces of legislation that would extend unemployment benefits and create jobs for Americans.

"Thousands of Hoosiers have lost their economic lifeline because of partisan posturing," said Congressman Carson. "While Republicans continue to call for hundreds of billions of dollars in tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, those in dire need are being pushed to the side. This delay is hurting families as well as our economy. The Congressional Budget Office has found extending these benefits to be one of the most cost-effective and fast-acting ways to stimulate the economy."

The nonpartisan Economic Policy Institute (EPI) recently released a report on the economic benefits of unemployment insurance. The report concluded that expanded unemployment benefits have added 1.15 million American jobs since 2007, promoted spending resulting in longer work-hours for the employed and resulted in a 1.7 percent boost in GDP.

The effort to extend unemployment benefits is not the only legislation that has been delayed in the Senate.

"Over the past several months, the U.S. House has passed bills that would create jobs and continue our country's economic momentum," said Carson. "But these efforts are being blocked at all costs by Senate Republicans. While they continue to play politics, they are stopping efforts to extend small business loan programs and restore the flow of credit, expand career training programs, funding for youth employment programs and important tax cuts that would put money back in the pockets of working families.

"There is still time for Republicans in the Senate to reorganize their priorities and put our recovery and the needs of struggling families before their policy of obstruction."

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