The Senate Is Now Set To Pass An Extension Of Unemployment Benefits

The Senate cleared a key procedural hurdle in extending long-term unemployment benefits to approximately 1.3 million Americans for another three months.

Votes are still ongoing, but the bill has the 60 votes needed to advance.

In the end, enough Republicans (six) joined all 55 senators caucusing with Democrats to advance the bill. The bill, co-sponsored by Sens. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Dean Heller (D-Nev.) needed 60 votes to advance the White House-supported bill.

President Barack Obama will speak from the White House at 11:40 a.m. ET on extending unemployment insurance.

As drafted, the bill would restore unemployment benefits at an average of $256 weekly. The unemployment benefits expired for those 1.3 million long-term unemployed on Dec. 28.