The U.S. Labor Department has agreed to extend trade adjustment benefits to Fieldcrest Cannon Retail Store employees, Rep. Brad Miller announced Wednesday.

Miller, a Raleigh Democrat, said he learned late last year that retail workers were left out of the original assistance plan because the retail stores were considered stand-alone businesses, separate from their parent, textile giant Pillowtex Corp.

Former store employees have worked with Miller's office to petition the labor department, he said in a statement. The petition's approval means that about 60 former workers in Eden, Kannapolis and Smithfield can apply for the benefits, which include help with health insurance.

In July, Pillowtex put 5,500 people out of work in the single-biggest loss of jobs ever in North Carolina.

Long-term jobless

Speaking of the jobless, Rep. David Price declared a victory Wednesday when the House passed an extension of federal unemployment benefits.

Price, a Chapel Hill Democrat, has been pushing the issue since benefits expired in December. He noted that a new study by the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities says "the most dramatic story" of workers exhausting their benefits is in North Carolina, where the figure has reached an all-time high of 61,600.

A provision to authorize money for another six months of federal unemployment benefits passed 227-179 over the objections of House Republican leaders. It now goes to the Senate.

"It's about time," Price said.

First responders

Rep. Bob Etheridge is none too pleased with how President Bush's budget proposal this week deals with homeland security.

Etheridge, a Lillington Democrat, said while Bush wants to increase overall funding for the Department of Homeland Security by 10 percent in the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1, his proposal would cut more than $600 million, or 15 percent, from grants for state and local emergency personnel.

For instance, an antiterror program that sent $41 million to North Carolina in 2003-04 would be cut to about $18 million, said Etheridge, the only North Carolina member of the House Select Committee on Homeland Security.

"I am appalled and outraged that this budget shortchanges North Carolina's first responders," he said in a statement Wednesday.

Back from Iraq

Rep. Robin Hayes, a Concord Republican, appeared on Fox News Wednesday to discuss his recent visit to Iraq and Afghanistan, along with Uzbekistan and Germany.

Hayes was part of a delegation that met with the Iraqi Governing Council, U.S. military officials and troops and L. Paul Bremer, the top U.S. civil administrator in Iraq. In Afghanistan, the delegation met Afghan President Hamid Karzai and discussed health and human rights issues with civic leaders. The delegation left Washington on Jan. 28 and returned Monday.

"I can tell that our soldiers have made a lot of progress," Hayes said in a statement. "Our troops continue to face major challenges, but they are doing a great job in handling these issues."

Moving on

Dan Gurley, chief of staff for Rep. Cass Ballenger, a Hickory Republican, is stepping aside Feb. 16 to become national field director for the Republican National Committee. He will be replaced by Roberta Hood, now legislative director and deputy chief of staff.