Chellie Pingree: “If this Congress does not act on unemployment benefits today, we risk gambling away those critical benefits for millions…”

“If this Congress does not act on unemployment benefits today, we risk gambling away those critical benefits for millions of men and women across the country. This couldn't come at a worse time. Just weeks before Christmas, with winter settling in, thousands of people in my State of Maine will see their benefits run out. Although our economy has shown some signs of improving, far, far too many people are still unable to find a job. Not only are unemployment benefits an essential part of the safety net, they are critical to keeping the local economy moving. When an unemployed Mainer gets a benefit check, he or she turns around and spends that money in the local community, at the supermarket or the gas station or the hardware store. In fact, every $1 of unemployment benefits generates $2 in local economic activity, according to the Department of Labor. Madam Speaker, for the sake of out-of-work Americans and businesses across this country, I urge my colleagues in the House to come together and extend unemployment benefits so we can keep our economy moving.”