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US Congress restores jobless benefits after long political battle
Jul 22, 2010, 20:12 GMT
Washington - The US Congress agreed Thursday to restore jobless benefits after a long political fight that left more than 2 million out-of-work Americans without compensation.
The House of Representatives voted 272-152 to extend benefits to Americans that have been without a job for six months or longer. The Senate passed the measure on Wednesday, and it now goes to President Barack Obama's desk for signature.
Democrats and Republicans had been out at odds over the benefits for months, with conservatives insisting the extension be paid for in lieu of adding to an already skyrocketing deficit. The infighting resulted in more than 2 million Americans losing their benefits at the end of May.
More than 8 million Americans were left without a job as a deep recession in the last two years pushed the unemployment rate above 10 per cent. The jobless rate currently sits at 9.5 per cent.
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