Mark Pocan: “I thank the Chair. I would like to try to split that time a little bit, a little bit on the unemployment extension, as…”

“I thank the Chair. I would like to try to split that time a little bit, a little bit on the unemployment extension, as we have been just talking about with the last several speakers, and a little bit about the fast track bill as well because both of those go hand-in-hand in what is going to happen to the American economy. I just want to share a few stories, some from my district and some from across the country, again, of real people. I am not talking about the numbers, the 72,000 people a week, but just real people and their stories about what this means when we don't extend those benefits. I am going to bring someone to the State of the Union speech from my district to talk about this personally, but let me share some stories that I have received. One is a woman from Baraboo, Wisconsin. She is a surgical nurse, and she lost her job more than 6 months ago. Since that time, she has done everything she can to look for work and apply for jobs, and unfortunately, up to this point, she hasn't been successful. Now, due to this Congress' inaction, Mr. Speaker, she has lost her unemployment benefits. Without this insurance, she is unable to afford her rent, and she is in danger of being kicked out of her house in just 2 weeks, meaning that she may have to move into a homeless shelter. She doesn't know where else to go or what else to do. That is a real person from south central Wisconsin who is affected by this Congress not acting and extending those benefits.…”