Lynn C. Woolsey: “we must restore funding for all unemployed workers across our Nation. We have to provide income assistance and health…”

“we must restore funding for all unemployed workers across our Nation. We have to provide income assistance and health premiums. It absolutely dumbfounds me that we would take away this aid for all unemployed workers to make up for a failed promise by our President to New York. We are all sympathetic. This is not about taking away something from New York. This is about making the promise to New York for $20 billion, but not robbing Peter to pay Paul. Instead of New York's $20 million commitment being failed, we should pay for that and fulfill President Bush's original promise to provide for community block grants so we can expand unemployment benefits, pay for health insurance premiums, or otherwise help families displaced by recession-related impacts across this Nation, impacts created across the Nation due too September 11 and before that. Without the Miller amendment, my State of California will lose about $220 million that is needed to extend unemployment insurance. Yet California's economy is also suffering from the economic effects of the 11th of September. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues, stand up for all unemployed Americans and their families. All of them deserve your help. All of them deserve unemployment assistance and health care benefits and we can do that by voting for the Miller amendment.”