Louise Slaughter: “Mr. Speaker, it is to try to help the people that need help. I know the unemployed do want jobs. I am sure that all…”

“Mr. Speaker, it is to try to help the people that need help. I know the unemployed do want jobs. I am sure that all unemployed workers thought that, during their working years when they paid their taxes, they believed that should a catastrophe hit and they lose their jobs that this government would help them out. That has been in the best tradition, to tide them over until a new job can be found; and when that job is found, I hope it will be as good as the job they lost. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote on the previous question. If the previous question is defeated, I will offer an amendment to the rule that will allow the House to vote on a straight 13-week extension of the unemployment benefits. Mr. Speaker, it has been nearly 6 months since the tragic events of September 11. In addition to the horrendous loss of life that occurred as a result of that day, the economic destruction has been enormous. Our economy, which was already in an economic downturn before the event, has worsened considerably. Millions of American jobs have been lost since then. The unemployment benefits for many of these jobless workers have already expired. Many, many more will lose benefits in the coming weeks. We must act immediately. The other body has already passed a clean extension of these critically-needed benefits. Every day that we fail to act means economic hardships for thousands of Americans and their families.”