Boswell For Congress

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Leonard Boswell voted to extend unemployment benefits that are set to expire on July 3 for 9,800 Iowans when the House passed H.R. 5618, the Restoration of Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act.

“These benefits keep food on the table and bills paid for many Iowa families that are struggling in this economy,” Boswell said. “As employers gain confidence that the markets are stable and consumers begin spending money again, these benefits will begin to become more unnecessary as Iowans get back to work.”

The Senate has adjourned. Senators will not be in session until July 12 and will not take up H.R. 5618 before these benefits expire for thousands of Iowans. Several attempts to pass the extension of unemployment benefits have failed in the Senate.

Boswell also voted this week to extend the closing deadline for the first-time homebuyer tax credit when the House passed H.R. 5623, the Homebuyers Assistance and Improvement Act of 2010. Those who entered into a contract to buy a home by the April 30 deadline now have until October 1 to close on the contract and qualify for the tax credit.  There have been numerous reports of homebuyers experiencing delays that could prevent them from closing by the original June 30 closing deadline, meaning they would no longer qualify for the credit. This would have impacted 2,030 Iowans who were using the tax credit to purchase their first homes.