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7337562
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President's Statement on Signing H.R. 16596 and H.R. 17597, on Jobs and Unemployment Assistance and Compensation [Signing Statements and Announcements]
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7337562
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document
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President's Statement on Signing H.R. 16596 and H.R. 17597, on Jobs and Unemployment Assistance and Compensation [Signing Statements and Announcements]
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White House Press Releases (Ford Administration)
Press Releases
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U.S. House of Representatives. (03/04/1789 - )
Legislation
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7337562
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31
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1974-12-31
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12
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1974
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Digitized from Box 6 of the White House Press Releases at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DECEMBER 31, 1974
Office of the White House Press Secretary
(Vail, Colorado)
THE WHITE HOUSE
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
Today I signed into law H. R. 16596, the Emergency Job and Unemployment
Assistance Act, and H. R. 17597, the Emergency Unemployment Compensa-
tion Act. These are important measures which provide much needed help
to our unemployed fellow citizens.
On October 8, when I outlined to Congress my proposals to fight inflation
and unemployment, I pointed out that the Conference on Inflation had made
us all aware of the undue burden being carried by those who lost their jobs
during this period of worsening economic conditions. I proposed a temporary
program to expand unemployment assistance and create jobs.
The Emergency Unemployment Compansation Act provides an additional 13
weeks of benefits to persons who are now covered by unemployment compen-
sation laws. This makes it possible for workers who have lost jobs to re-
ceive up to one full year of protection if they are unable to find employment.
Title II of the Emergency Jobs and Unemployment Assistance Act creates a
temporary unemployment insurance program for jobless workers not now
eligible for payments under any other State or Federal programs, including
State and local government employees, farm workers, domestic workers,
and others not now covered.
Designed to respond to changing economic conditions, these two programs
providing urgent added protection for workers will automatically expand when
unemployment is high and contract when it recedes.
Expenditures under existing law of at least $10 billion are projected in fiscal
year 1975 for unemployment compensation. The Urgent Supplemental Appro-
priations bill which I will sign shortly provides $2. 75 billion for these two
new temporary programs to be used as needed for direct aid to workers.
Title I of H. R. 16597 authorizes a temporary expansion of funding for jobs in
the public sector. This action provides up to 100,000 new jobs in addition to
the 170,000 financed by funds currently available under existing law.
At my request, the Secretary of Labor has already urged the State governors
to move quickly in making assistance available to the jobless. The Secretary
is also working with the States and localities to develop all available resources
for the immediate and effective creation of jobs.
With regard to Title III of H. R. 16596, I believe that its provisions would
create an unnecessarily complex and unwieldy administrative mechanism in-
volving program and project reviews by all Federal agencies, regional com-
missions, and units of general government. I will, therefore, request that the
Congress transfer appropriations from this Title to Title I of the Act so that
needed employment can be provided as quickly and efficiently as possible.
In sum, however, I commend the 93rd Congress for its action on these two
vital measures and am confident that the spurt of cooperation and conciliation
which marked their passage will carry over into the new year and the new
Congress.
###