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President Barack Obama is urging the U. S. Senate to act this week on extending benefits for 2. 5 million unemployed Americans. Mr. Obama says Americans without jobs are being held " hostage" by Senate Republicans who have blocked legislation to extend unemployment insurance that expired in June. (24)Three times in recent weeks, Republicans have used parliamentary tactics in the Senate to block the extension of benefits, angering the President at a time when he is trying to move this and other legislation through Congress before the congressional recess.
    The White House has declared the unemployment bill an emergency measure, meaning it does not have to be offset by spending cuts in other areas of the federal budget.