Jim Risch: “first, let me say to my distinguished colleague from New Jersey, I sincerely appreciate his passion about this problem.…”

“first, let me say to my distinguished colleague from New Jersey, I sincerely appreciate his passion about this problem. I think everyone on this side of the aisle likewise feels as passionately about the difficulties facing the American people today. There is no one who believes this is not a problem. There is no one here who does not feel the empathy every one of us should feel about Americans who are losing their jobs and about Americans who are underemployed. There are over 92 percent of Americans employed, but there are over 7 percent who are not. The fact that 92 percent are employed in no way denigrates the fact that we have a substantial and a high rate of unemployment. With all due respect to my colleague from New Jersey, he made reference to the fact that there are people encouraging that we do nothing. I don't know who that person is. I have not run into them yet. It is not anyone on this floor that I know of. I think this problem is so serious and I believe my Republican colleagues believe this problem is so serious that it does not only deserve something be done but that something major be done, something aggressive be done, and something quickly be done. With all due respect, I strongly disagree with his characterization that there is anyone on this side of the aisle who hopes this plan does not succeed. We pray every day that this package does succeed. It has to succeed. If it does not, this country is going to be in very serious trouble.”