[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 64 (Thursday, May 1, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H3623]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  EXTENDING THE TEMPORARY EMERGENCY UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION PROGRAM

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to the many 
hard-working families in our country that cannot make ends meet as this 
economy slows and the job market continues to weaken.

                              {time}  1615

  These families are the main reason we must absolutely extend the 
temporary emergency unemployment compensation program, TEUC; and they 
are the reason we must do it now. With the current high unemployment 
rate of 5.8 percent, unemployment benefits are the same as when the 
TEUC program was first established in March of 2002, over a year ago, 
and reextended in January, 2003. Just last week the Department of Labor 
reported that new applications for unemployment insurance hit the high 
number of 455,000 applicants for the week ending April 19. This is the 
highest level in more than a year. And it does not count families who 
have exhausted their benefits and still are not working.
  Mr. Speaker, in March of this year, millions of workers had exhausted 
their regular unemployment benefits which continues the pattern of the 
past 24 months, where the numbers of unemployed workers receiving aid 
is absolutely and actually increasing. Mr. Speaker, there is no 
question that there is a real need for unemployed worker relief in this 
Nation, but we do not need numbers and we do not need statistics to 
alert us to this growing problem. Just listen to the words from letters 
I have received from my constituents in the Sixth Congressional 
District of California. And when the Members hear their words, they 
will know that there is immediacy for additional unemployment insurance 
benefits, and they will know that it is important that people in 
districts like mine, Marin and Sonoma Counties, where the unemployment 
is not as dire as some other areas in the country, still have needs as 
well as the rest of the Nation.
  One constituent writes: ``I have a master's degree and have not been 
able to find work. I also deal with a chronic illness. I find myself 
applying for food stamps and soon will be unable to pay any bills. I'm 
not sure I will have a roof over my head before long. A lot of people 
are having a very difficult time. Please try to make unemployment 
benefits a top priority.''
  Another writes: ``I have been actively seeking work since the end of 
March, 2002, without success. I am a 55-year-old man who has never had 
a problem staying fully employed until this year. I have never before 
been affected by the reluctance of employers to hire older people. 
That, coupled with the stagnant economy, has made my ability to earn a 
living terrifyingly difficult. Unemployment compensation has kept food 
on my table for my family, but I worry what will happen next month.''
  These letters show how desperately workers need help. They need help 
just to keep their heads above water so their families can have the 
food and shelter they need to be healthy and safe, so their families 
can eat while their parents continue to search for work.
  It is important that this Congress take action to make sure no family 
goes without basic needs like food or money for bills. That is why I 
support the gentleman from New York's (Congressman Rangel) bill, H.R. 
1652, the Unemployment Benefits Extension Act. This would provide 26 
weeks of extended benefits through November, 2003. The consideration of 
this bill is critical as many unemployed workers once again find 
themselves reaching the end of unemployment benefits. If these benefits 
are not extended, in most States workers exhausting their regular 
benefits after May 31 of this year will receive no further assistance.
  Extending these benefits would also give the economy a boost, Mr. 
Speaker, because unemployed workers would have money for purchases. 
Otherwise, without these benefits, these workers, unemployed workers, 
will have to curtail their spending, which would weaken the economy and 
continue the domino effect, causing even more job loss.
  Economy.com analysis found that extension of the Federal unemployment 
insurance benefits would be the single most effective action that 
Congress could take now to boost the economy and protect jobs.

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