Washington, DC - Tonight, the House passed the Senate amendment to H.R. 4851, Continuing Extension Act, 289-112.  This followed the Senate’s action earlier this evening,  passing the bill by a vote of 59 to 38.  This emergency legislation will extend a range of programs (unemployment benefits, COBRA, Medicare physician payments, satellite TV, flood insurance, small business loans, and poverty guidelines) for two months (generally through May 31).  Unemployment benefits are extended until June 2.  Passage tonight will send this critical emergency measure to help families and small businesses struggling to makes end meet to the President’s desk to be signed into law.  A staunch supporter of the UI extension Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) made the following remarks about the bill:

"Today's action by the Senate ensures the displaced workers have an additional two months to access unemployment benefits and COBRA subsidies. This is critical for thousands of my constituents in Michigan in order to see their doctor or pay their rent. I hope today's action is just one more step forward to a longer extension."

“This vote ensures that our Nation’s seniors and military families continue to enjoy uninterrupted access to their doctors; and that our doctors will be paid appropriately for their service.  Unfortunately, the fix in this bill is only temporary.  In a few weeks we will find ourselves confronted with the same issue we have faced for the past seven years.  I will continue to urge my colleagues to stop kicking the can down the road on this issue and address it once and for all.  We owe it to our seniors and military families, and their providers.”

Congressman Dingell is the author of H.R. 3961, the “Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009”.  H.R. 3961 would permanently reform the broken Medicare physician payment system.  It passed the House of Representatives November 2009 by a vote of 243-183.