WASHINGTON (AP) – Fewer American sought unemployment benefits last week, lowering jobless claims to 793,000, evidence that job cuts remain high despite a substantial decline in new viral infections.
Last week’s total fell from 812,000 the previous week, the Labor Department said Thursday. That figure was revised higher from the previously-reported figure of 779,000.
Before the virus erupted in the United States in March, weekly applications for jobless aid had never topped 700,000, even during the Great Recession.
Meantime, Republicans are attacking the Democrats’ $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package as too costly, economically damaging and overtly partisan. The package would provide $1,400 payments to some Americans, hundreds of billions for state and local governments and boost vaccination efforts, raise tax credits for children and increase unemployment benefits. Democratic leaders hope for a bill on Biden’s desk by mid-March.
The GOP is attempting to derail President Joe Biden’s top priority as it starts moving through a Congress that his party controls only narrowly.
Five House committees worked Wednesday on their pieces of the sweeping legislation.
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