On the recordDecember 13, 2011
We're running out of time. Just in California, where I come from, 356,000 Californians are at risk of losing critical unemployment benefits because this Congress has failed to act. These aren't just 356,000 strangers; these are our friends, these are our neighbors, these are our families. These are proud Americans who through no fault of their own have lost their jobs. They want to work, but because this Congress has failed to act, jobs are hard to find. And instead of just voting on extending these unemployment benefits, my Republican friends have asked us to approve other unrelated controversial items in this bill. What I'm saying to my Republican friends is, can't we just vote on the unemployment benefits by themselves? Can't we debate the oil pipeline later? Do we have to gut clean air laws to extend benefits? Let's vote on this on its own and give Americans some hope. ____________________
