Alexander Statement on Unemployment Benefits Vote

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 – U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement on his vote against cutting off debate on Democratic legislation that would extend unemployment compensation without consideration of Republican proposals for helping unemployed Americans:

“Unfortunately, the Senate is starting the new year just like the old one ended, with the Democratic leader bypassing committee consideration and cutting off amendments and debate on an important issue. In this case, the Democratic leader’s actions prevented many good ideas for helping unemployed Americans find a job from ever reaching the Senate floor.”

Alexander is a cosponsor of the Workforce Investment Act of 2013, bipartisan legislation that would provide approximately $145 million for job training in Tennessee, and was passed by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, of which Alexander is the lead Republican. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a similar bill earlier this year.

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