On the recordJune 29, 2010
I rise today to support this legislation because I want the American people to know that this Congress who has taken their vote really needs to stand by its word. That word is to be there for America during a rainy day. This unemployment insurance extension is not a handout; it's a hand up. Democrats have voted to create thousands of jobs in America but it is not enough. All the economists will tell you that Americans are not at work because they don't want to work. They are not at work because jobs have not been created, and one of the downfalls of the bailout, for those of us who did vote against it but because of the outpouring of our own constituents who asked us to vote 'yes,' we voted 'yes' for small businesses and businesses in general to create jobs, but if the too-big-to-fail banks refuse to give them loans to create jobs then we are stuck with no job creation at the level we would like. We need to be able to provide for those who need us now, provide for those without jobs or losing jobs, and get off this high horse of breaking your word to the American people.
