Mike Honda: “last November, President Bush and the Republican leadership turned their backs on over 1 million Americans. Despite…”

“last November, President Bush and the Republican leadership turned their backs on over 1 million Americans. Despite repeated efforts by Democrats, President Bush and the Republican leadership refused to pass legislation that would have prevented unemployment benefits from expiring on December 28. Due to their inaction, over 800,000 Americans faced a holiday season full of uncertainty. I repeat, President Bush and the Republican leadership allowed over 800,000 Americans to lose their unemployment benefits on December 28. Mr. Speaker, this is unacceptable. In my district of Santa Clara County alone, over 7,000 unemployed workers were cut off from their benefits, and an additional 13,000 unemployed workers will lose their benefits if Congress does not act now. Mr. Speaker, 1.5 million Americans have lost their jobs since President Bush took office. Congress cannot continue to callously ignore their needs. I call on the Bush administration and the Republican leadership to make the extension of unemployment benefits the first priority of the 108th Congress.”