By Nell Henderson
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, March 12, 2004; Page E01

Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan yesterday endorsed extending unemployment benefits for workers who have exhausted them, even as he predicted that job growth should pick up "more quickly" as the economy keeps expanding.

President Bush and Congress have acted three times since the 2001 recession to provide jobless workers with an extra 13-weeks of benefits beyond the 26 weeks provided by the states. But lawmakers let the last extension expire in December amid partisan rancor.

"I think considering the possibility of extending unemployment benefits is not a bad idea," Greenspan said in response to questioning at a hearing of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. He added that he has supported such extensions before "in times like this."

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