Obama signs jobless benefits extension

WASHINGTON, July 22 (UPI) -- President Obama Thursday signed a bill extending unemployment benefits for about 2.5 million Americans, again criticizing Republicans who tried to block it.

The House voted 272-152 Thursday to pass the bill and send it to the White House, one day after the Senate approved it -- and two days after Senate Democrats were able to overcome a third Republican filibuster.

"Today, I signed the unemployment insurance extension to restore desperately needed assistance to two and a half million Americans who lost their jobs in the recession," Obama said in a statement issued by the White House. "After a partisan minority used procedural tactics to block the authorization of this assistance three separate times over the past weeks, Americans who are fighting to find a good job and support their families will finally get the support they need to get back on their feet during these tough economic times."

Obama renewed his call for Congress to take further action on "proposals that support our economic recovery, including passing critical aid to our states and support to small businesses."

The legislation Obama signed will extend unemployment benefits through November for Americans who have not yet used up 99 weeks of those payments, the Los Angeles Times reported. Benefits would be retroactive to late May when a previous extension expired.

Republicans argued that the nearly $34 billion cost of the extension should be paid for with spending cuts, but Democrats said the 9.5 unemployment rate is an emergency.

The Senate voted 59-39 in favor of the legislation.