On the recordJune 18, 2014
I follow the gentleman from New York. I rise today because I think it is absolutely unconscionable that after more than 6 months the House Republicans continue to fail to act to extend unemployment benefits. There are more than 3 million Americans who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own who are waiting for Congress to do something for them. I have heard from many of them, my constituents, about their struggles because of Congress' failure to act. Lily of Linden, New Jersey, has been out of work for 2 years. She and her husband have dipped into their entire savings just to get by. Because of her age and her illness, she has found it increasingly harder to find gainful employment. It has come to this sad point, Mr. Speaker, that Lily can no longer afford her medicine, and her family may soon be homeless. By failing to act, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have coldly turned their backs on millions of Americans and people like Lily. Turning their backs on people who have elected them is simply unacceptable, and I will not stay silent. ____________________
