A new report released by Florida International University says Floridians are disproportionately affected by the federal government's failure to extend unemployment benefits.  

Previously, federal unemployment assistance would kick in after state benefits ran out. But those ended with the new year. That means the total number of weeks that someone could get assistance was cut in half.

Ali Bustamante who authored the report, says Florida will be affected by the Federal cuts more than anywhere else in the country."The one main reason is because Florida’s workers have the longest average and median duration of unemployment in the county", said Bustamante. "On average the unemployed Floridian is unemployed for about 44 weeks."

The means Floridians spend a longer time without assistance or benefits. One reason they stay unemployed longer is because Florida workers are older, and older workers don't get hired as fast.

But there may be hope on the horizon for the 73,000 or so affected by the cuts. In a surprise vote on Tuesday, Republicans in Washington voted to move forward a proposal that could extend benefits again.