Mike Levin: “the majority says ``This is not the way'' when you stand in the way. You say, the majority, the jobs are the answer…”

“the majority says ``This is not the way'' when you stand in the way. You say, the majority, the jobs are the answer, when under your dominion we have lost 3 million jobs in this country. You talk about this being a political ploy. No. What it is is an effort to force your hand, to lose your iron grip on unemployment compensation. In the 1991-1992 recession, just 10, 12 years ago, the program ended after the creation of 3 million jobs, so people could find a job. Now you have ended this program when there has been a loss of 2 million jobs. So you say the READ Act. That $8 billion went to the States to pay regular State 26 weeks of benefits, not to extend the benefits program that is the Federal extended benefit program. So let me just say to every Member here who votes no on this amendment, it will be interpreted appropriately as a vote ``no'' against the millions of unemployed people in this country, the 375,000 every month who are exhausting their benefits. Vote ``yes.''”