December 15, 2011

GOV. MALLOY JOINS 15 OTHER GOVERNORS TO URGE EXTENSION OF UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION

(HARTFORD, CT) - Governor Dannel P. Malloy and 15 other governors from around the nation today sent a joint letter to Congressional leadership, urging a one-year extension of the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Program and 100% federal funding of the Extended Benefits Program before they expire on December 31.

"We are extremely concerned about the potential impact of the expiration of these programs on families and our economic recovery as a whole," the 16 governors stated in their letter. "Unless Congress extends these programs before adjourning for the holidays, nearly 2 million unemployed workers will lose this critical support in January 2012 alone. Now is not the time to turn our backs on hard-working Americans."

The letter, a copy of which is attached , was signed by: Gov. Abercrombie (HI); Gov. Beshear (KY); Gov. Brown (CA); Gov. Cuomo (NY); Gov. Dayton (MN); Gov. de Jonghe (USVI); Gov. Gregoire (WA); Gov. Hickenlooper (CO); Gov. Kitzhaber (OR); Gov. Malloy (CT); Gov. Markell (DE); Gov. O'Malley (MD); Gov. Patrick (MA); Gov. Perdue (NC); Gov. Quinn (IL); and Gov. Shumlin (VT).

**Attached: Letter from 16 governors to Congressional leadership

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For Immediate Release: December 15, 2011

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