In the Department of Defense appropriations bill, an additional $13.6 billion in funding for unemployment insurance and benefits was included. The amendment included increased benefits and increased the number of weeks unemployed workers can be eligible for benefits by 20 weeks, from 79 to 99 weeks in the highest unemployment states. Unemployed workers are now eligible to receive 99 weeks of benefits beginning now through February 28, 2010.

Extended unemployment benefits were originally passed as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.