On the recordFebruary 26, 2010
Mr. President, last night a number of Senators stayed on the floor until almost midnight--I thank the staff and pages for their endurance and patience. This was over an issue that was critically important to our Nation. It is an issue which relates to this recession we are in and the fact that literally millions of Americans in every State across America are out of work and doing their very best to find jobs. It is not easy. There are as many as four unemployed workers for every available job. People are taking jobs that pay substantially less than what they are used to earning in the hopes of keeping their family together and weathering this economic storm. Some of the sacrifices that are being made will literally change lives and families forever. People are losing their homes because of the loss of jobs. Folks are finding their kids have to drop out of college and come home because the families can no longer help them afford to pay for tuition and the expense of higher education. So many families in desperate straits are turning to the food banks in cities across America. As I visit these food banks, they tell me there is a dramatic increase in the number of people who come in looking for the basic food they need to put on the table to keep their families together. Some of these families have lost their health insurance. It is one of the first casualties of losing a job.…
Source
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