Political Quotes

“this is part of the economic stimulus package. It is an amendment agreed to by both sides, Democrats and Republicans, to extend the unemployment insurance benefits to those States which will provide protection, expanded coverage for part-time workers who otherwise would not be eligible for unemployment compensation, and expand coverage to low-wage and recent hires who are also out of work and cannot be covered by unemployment. It also increases benefit levels under unemployment compensation by 15 percent or $25 per week, whichever is greater. These proposals are temporary. All of the funding comes from Federal funding sources from the unemployment insurance fund. The amendment costs about $15 billion in one year, but it will provide direct, immediate relief to unemployed people across America. When we return next Tuesday, I will speak to this amendment at length. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting it on a bipartisan basis.”