Unemployment Insurance (UI) Compensation Extended:
Late July action extended UI benefits.  The primary extension features of the bill include:

1. The period during which individuals may file applications for Federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) is extended from weeks beginning before June 2, to weeks beginning before November 30, 2010 and the period during which individuals may claim and be paid EUC is extended from ending November 6, 2010 to April 30, 2011.
2. The period during which individuals may qualify for the Federal Additional Compensation (FAC), the extra $25 per weekly benefit amount on state and federal unemployment compensation, was not extended and will end with weeks ending beginning after December 7, 2010.
3. The period during which 100% federal reimbursement for weeks of regular federal extended benefit payments is provided would be extended from the week ending after June 2, 2010 to the week ending after December 1, 2010 with the state option to continue the extended period for payments extended from November 6, 2010 to April 30, 2011.

Manufacturing Legislation Sent To President:
The U.S. Manufacturing Enhancement Act (H.R. 4380) was passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate this week.  It is a miscellaneous tariff bill designed to help U.S. manufacturers compete at home and abroad by temporarily suspending or reducing duties on intermediate products or materials these companies use that are not made domestically or opposed by domestic producers.  According to supporters, “This is part of our American manufacturing strategy to ensure a new prosperity by promoting American competitiveness, innovation and exports. These reductions and suspensions of import duties lower costs for materials American businesses use in production and thereby increase the competitiveness of our products.”  Key to building a strong American economy and leveling the playing field for U.S. firms, the bill is estimated to support tens of thousands of jobs, helping increase U.S. production and expand gross domestic product (GDP) by billions of dollars. National Association of Manufacturers President and CEO John Engler said that the bill “is one of the most important short-term actions that Congress can take to preserve and expand good American jobs, cut the cost of doing business in this country, boost American manufacturing competitiveness, and boost our manufacturing exports.”