"Today's report that the unemployment rate jumped to 6 percent in November underscores the urgent need to extend unemployment insurance benefits. It is a travesty that the President and the House Republican leadership failed to support a meaningful extension of unemployment insurance benefits before Congress adjourned.

"As a result, close to 1 million Americans will be left out in the cold when their unemployment benefits expire 3 days after Christmas. I hope that the President, with the help of a new economic team, will finally move off of the side-lines and support an extension of unemployment insurance benefits when the Congress returns in January."