Political Quotes

“if the House does not act today or tomorrow, 80,000 Americans will be denied extended unemployment benefits on June 1. Every week thereafter, another 80,000 laid-off workers will be denied benefits, totaling $2 million over the next 6 months. This is in addition to the one million unemployed workers who have already exhausted their extended benefits. Last week, Democrats tried three times to get a vote on extending unemployment benefits, but each time the Republicans said no. We are now in the longest period of negative job growth since the Great Depression. The unemployed are looking for work, but they cannot find jobs. They need and deserve extension of unemployment benefits. Mr. Speaker, I would hope that you would entertain a request to immediately consider legislation introduced by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel) and myself, H.R. 1652, to extend unemployment benefits for millions of Americans who have lost their jobs, not just those who have exhausted their State benefits. This request would simply ensure that the unemployed at least get a vote on the floor before we adjourn. We have the money in the Federal Unemployment Trust Fund to pay for these benefits. That is the least we can do.”