Congresswoman Shelley Berkley today (March 6, 2009) pointed to new figures showing a 25-year high in Nevada’s unemployment rate to underscore the importance of the recently passed economic recovery package to 195,000 jobless Nevadans who will see an additional $100 per month to help cover important living expenses.  The package also extends benefits for an additional 40,000 displaced workers.  Figures released this morning show that Nevada’s unemployment rate has reached 9.4%, its highest level since 1983.   

 “Because of the package we passed, 195,000 Nevadans will see an extra $100 per month included in their unemployment benefit checks at a time when they can use every extra dollar.  And we extended unemployment benefits for an additional 40,000 workers who have been laid off.  And remember, the extension of these vital payments, and the increase in monthly benefits for families, both come at no cost to the State of Nevada,” Berkley said.    

 “These sobering new figures also highlight why it would be unwise for our State to reject additional funding to help even more unemployed Nevadans, including part-time workers displaced as a result of the downturn in the tourism industry,” said Berkley.  “These are not just numbers on a page, they are our friends and neighbors and we can help even more of them by bringing Nevada’s unemployment system into the 21^st Century.  All these families are asking for is a bit of help just to cover basic living expenses like food and rent and we should find a way to try and help as many of these men and women as we can.” 

The majority of all unemployment provisions included in The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act do not require any funding on the part of Nevada.  However, the State can qualify for millions in additional funding by modernizing the state’s unemployment system.  Updating the system will increase fairness, especially for women in the workforce, and expand eligibility to include part-time employees.

FEDERALLY-FUNDED UNEMPLOYMENT EXTENSION PROVISIONS

·         Increases Weekly Unemployment Compensation for 195,000 Nevadans – Extra $100 per Week: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act temporarily increases unemployment compensation by $25 a week, providing nearly $1,000 in an additional aid for the remainder of this year.  Nearly 20 million unemployed workers are projected to benefit from this provision.

·         Extends Unemployment Benefits to Additional 40,000 Jobless Nevadans: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provides up to 33 weeks of federally-funded unemployment.  Qualified Nevada workers will see their checks continue through December 2009.  In addition, the legislation will temporarily provide 100% federal funding for the permanent-law Extended Benefits (EB) Program, which provides up to another 20 weeks of additional extended benefits in Nevada and other high unemployment States.

Berkley Statement On Creation Of Blue Ribbon Panel For Nuclear Waste Alternatives

Congresswoman Shelley Berkley today (March 12, 2009) pledged her support for new legislation that will soon be introduced in the Senate and House that will create a blue ribbon commission to study nuclear waste disposal.  Creation of the panel will further efforts to permanently end all work related to Yucca Mountain and to redirect billions of dollars in funding to other waste disposal activities.    

 “The creation of this expert panel is another critical step in eliminating Yucca Mountain because it will provide a solution to this issue that does not include dumping radioactive waste outside Las Vegas,” said Berkley.  “This proposal has bipartisan support, including the backing of President Obama, but it will only succeed if Yucca Mountain is 100% off the table and a new process put in place to address existing waste stockpiles, as well as materials from any new reactors.  In the meantime, we can secure current waste at existing reactor sites using dry-cask storage.  This method, already approved by federal regulators, costs a fraction of Yucca Mountain’s staggering $100 billion price tag and is safe for 100 years, providing ample time for the waste issue to be solved.” 

Berkley Applauds White House Statement In Support Of Travel To Las Vegas And Other Destinations By Families And Businesses    

Congresswoman Shelley Berkley today (March 12, 2009) applauded statements by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs expressing support by the Obama Administration for travel to Las Vegas and other destinations by families and businesses. 

 “When the White House says to American families and to businesses that they should travel to Las Vegas and other destinations for work or a vacation, it’s a boost to our tourism and convention industry,” said Berkley.  “I am very pleased that when given the opportunity, the President’s spokesman made it clear that tourism is a vital part of our nation’s economy and that the industry has the support of this White House.  I hope that others will follow the lead of the Obama Administration and speak out about the economic importance of both business travel and tourism.  And we will do our part to remind the world that Las Vegas is a destination that offers great value, unsurpassed service and world-class convention, business and hotel facilities – along with a little bit of entertainment,” said Berkley.

Transcript from Briefing with White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

Question: An op-ed in the Washington Post -- a part of it is about business travel and seems to be referring to what the president said, don't go to Las Vegas or The Super Bowl.

Gibbs: Let's be clear about what the president said. I don't think the president said don't go to Las Vegas. Or don't go to Hawaii or don't go to the Super Bowl, I forget where the super bowl was. Don't go to Tampa. If you have -- it's getting warm. If you have the desire and the where with all to travel to those places, to quote a famous southerner, Delta is ready when you are. What the president expressed some concern about was companies that are getting large amounts of public funding, taxpayer funding through a financial stabilization plan, that the president does have great concern with public money being used for that. But, the president believes in its important to have a strong tourism industry and it's important that as the president said earlier, that or late last week, we shouldn't pull back from. He would encourage people to travel.  His concern, the concern he specifically expressed had to do with the use of taxpayer or use of money by institutions that received a lot of assistance from the taxpayers. Obviously, that's not something he would incorporate. 

Question: He's concerned comments may have been misconstrued. Any regrets about what he said?

Gibbs: I think the president, despite what some people heard, was very clear about the delineations between families and businesses traveling versus to need to ensure that appropriate protections are in place for taxpayer assistance used to help financial institutions stabilize themselves. They were -- that money was -- is being spent and we assume it will be spent will great care.