Darlene Hooley: “Oregon has had the dubious distinction of being the number one State for unemployment. We lost more than 57,000 jobs. I…”

“Oregon has had the dubious distinction of being the number one State for unemployment. We lost more than 57,000 jobs. I think people need to be reminded that unemployment benefits do not pay their full salary. This is a bridge from one job to another. And when people go out and cannot find a job, they need that bridge. I was talking to one woman. She is in her 50s. She has worked her entire life. She was laid off. She has looked for a job every single day. She had to sell her home to be able to support herself and her family. A gentleman just a week ago I was talking to said he is 52; he has got a daughter who is an honors scholar in high school. He would like to see her go to college. Now he is afraid about losing his house and how he is going to support his family. These benefits are not used for luxury items. They are needed to pay the rent and mortgage, buy food, pay utility bills. The President has talked about marriage promotion programs costing billions of dollars. But it is scientific fact that poverty and homelessness directly increase the rate of divorce. Therefore, unemployment benefits, which keep families experiencing temporary hardships off the street until they find a job, should be considered the best marriage promotion program of all. Yet these benefits have been ignored by this Congress and this administration.”