Senate Approves Jobless-Benefits Bill

The Senate has passed legislation to renew a program of jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed that expired last December.

But the 59-38 vote sends the bill to a frosty reception in the House, where majority Republicans are generally opposed.

The White House-backed bill would retroactively restore benefits that were cut off in late December, and maintain them through May. Officials say as many as 2.7 million jobless workers have been affected since the law expired late last year. If renewed, aid would total about $256 weekly, mostly going to men and women who have been off the job for longer than six months.

Passage came as a handful of House Republicans urged Speaker John Boehner to allow a vote on the Senate bill or one like it.