After a relatively long period of fiscal crises, which started from the previous decade, the US economy has been slowly but perhaps surely on its way to recovery. Many Americans, however, are not impressed with the country's predicted economic growth, which stands at 1.5 percent, according to the Congressional Budget Office, as opposed to President Barack Obama's predicted 2.6 percent for this year.

Aside from the apparently slow economic growth that fell short of expectations, controversies surrounding the Unemployment Benefits Extension had caught the attention of an increasing number of the country's population. Despite the controversies, however, many still acknowledge the importance these benefits serve in America's unemployed population.

US Representative Brad Schneider of Illinois once again recently urged for the immediate extension of unemployment benefits on Monday, August 25, during the Career Resource Center conference with constituents and workers in Lake Forest.

During the meeting, Rep. Schneider stressed the need to immediately extend the unemployment benefits, which he said helps "bridge the gap in difficult times." The US Congressman also highlighted that even though agencies like the Career Resource Center extend great help to job seekers in their quest to find employment, many are still facing difficulties and challenges in finding work, and that a significant number of unemployed Americans still largely depend on the country's unemployment benefits. The lawmaker also added that he believes that extending these benefits is not only a smart policy, but that it is also the right thing to do.

US Rep. Schneider is co-sponsor of the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act, which aims to extend the unemployment benefits to aid the country's long-term unemployed. The congressional representative has reportedly so far held four mass hiring events in the state of Illinois.