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September 7, 2021

Jobless Benefits for Millions Expire on Labor Day After Congress and White House Fail to Act
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Unemployment benefits for millions of U.S. workers expired on Labor Day,
after President Biden declined to press the Democratic-led Congress to
extend assistance - even as many states suffered their worst surge of
the pandemic. An estimated 9.3 million jobless workers lost benefits,
along with 26 million members of their households who relied on the
income. The cutoff of aid came after the Labor Department reported the
U.S. economy added just 235,000 jobs in August - a significant slowdown
due largely to the spread of the Delta coronavirus variant. The
unemployment rate for African Americans rose six-tenths of a percentage
point in August to 8.8%.

On Labor Day, President Biden met with members of the International
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in Wilmington, Delaware, shaking hands
and posing for selfies.


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