THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HAS VOTED TO EXTEND UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FOR AN ADDITIONAL 13 WEEKS TO WORKERS IN STATES LIKE TENNESSEE WHERE THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE EXCEEDS 8.5 PERCENT. FIRST DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN DR. PHIL ROE OF JOHNSON CITY WAS AMONG THOSE VOTING IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSAL. DR. ROE SAID IN STATES WITH HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT, IT IS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO FIND NEW JOBS, DESPITE MONTHS OF SEARCHING. ACCORDING TO ROE, EXTENDING THE BENEFIT DURING AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN IS NECESSARY TO HELP FAMILIES THROUGH THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND STRENGTHEN THE ECONOMY ITSELF.