On the recordMay 23, 2003
What are the people to do? They have exhausted their unemployment insurance benefits in a labor market that, instead of opening up so there are opportunities for jobs, is actually closing down. The unemployment rate has now risen to 6 percent. The number of long-term unemployed is at a near 20-year record. The other side is talking about doing some kind of an extension, but as I understand it, they will not cover exhaustees; is that correct? Is that the Senator's understanding?
Source
govinfo.gov




