GOP Senators Negotiating Unemployment Insurance Issue Joint Statement

Press Release

Senators Heller, Collins, Ayotte, Coats, Hoeven, Isakson, Murkowski, Portman negotiating package that is fully paid for, repeals military retiree cuts

Following a meeting this afternoon, Senators Dean Heller (R-NV), Susan Collins (R-ME), Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Dan Coats (R-IN), John Hoeven (R-ND), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Rob Portman (R-OH) issued a joint statement regarding the current state of negotiations surrounding an unemployment insurance benefits extension that is fully paid for:

"We continue to negotiate in good faith, and we are all encouraged that we are making progress on a package that could pass with bipartisan support. The proposal includes (1) a three-month extension of the temporary federal long-term unemployment insurance program; (2) a repeal of the recent cuts in the military retiree cost-of-living adjustment included in December's budget agreement; and (3) offsets to pay for the unemployment extension and restoring military retiree benefits within the budget window.

"Our solution would also allow for a reasonable number of related amendments to be offered by both sides, which would be a productive breakthrough."