Political Quotes

“I want to talk about three issues in this bill that are very important. One deals with unemployment insurance, and the others deal with our welfare system. I am pleased we now have these three provisions in a package that has a good chance of not only passing this body but the other body and being signed by the President of the United States. The provision I am referring to is the 13-week extension of unemployment insurance. We have been in recession for the last year. People, through no fault of their own, cannot find employment. It is important that we extend the unemployment insurance benefits. This 13 weeks will help 80,000 people a week who are exhausting their current unemployment insurance benefits. The other two provisions deal with our welfare system. We extend the supplemental grants to those States who depend upon the supplemental grants in order to fund their welfare programs. Maryland is not one of those States, so the people in my State do not benefit, but it is an important program, and I applaud the effort that will finally get that enacted into law.”