FORT WAYNE, IN (Indiana's NewsCenter) --- The U.S. House of Representatives Thursday joined the Senate in endorsing another round of extended unemployment benefits, a life preserver for millions of Americans who can't find a job.

Billions of dollars in aid, paid for by taxpayers, will be funneled to the nearly two million people who have already lost or are in danger of exhausting jobless benefits before the end of the year.

It's especially important right now, with the Christmas holiday fast approaching.

People out of work who are eligible to take advantage of the program could receive up to 20 weeks in additional government assistance.

We ran into Mike Marcum of Fort Wayne, who was laid off by Brooks Construction about a year ago.

Mike Marcum/Unemployed: " This is the only thing that's left out there for us, so that's what we have to use, and I mean, the government's extending it out for us so we're thankful for it, it's all we got."

Professor Al Grossnickle/U. of St. Francis: " Normally, I don't like to see the government spending the money, but in this economy, there's nothing else we can do."

Grossnickle, a Professor of Entrepreneurship at St. Francis, doesn't anticipate any real relief from high unemployment for at least another two years.

He's not sure we can afford to keep providing the assistance, but says we've really got no other choice at present.

President Obama stands ready to sign the new round of extended jobless benefits into law on Friday.

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