Thanks to the efforts of thousands of SEIU members contacting Congress, a Senate vote today cleared the way for passage of the much-needed extension of the enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (FMAP)

The extension provides critical funding to maintain jobs in the public sector, hospitals, nusing homes and other healthcare facilities. Ohio stands to receive about $513 million from the increased federal match through June 2011, while West Virginia will get $81 million and Kentucky will get $158 million.

"Today the Senate protected hundreds of thousands of American jobs," said SEIU President Mary Kay Henry. "Our economic recovery depends on putting people back to work in good jobs with decent wages and keeping the rest of us working. Thanks to today's bipartisan vote and the leadership of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, kids will keep their teachers and we can all still count on the cops, firefighters, and other public service workers who keep our communities safe and livable."