[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 79 (Monday, June 2, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1091]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2185, UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION 
                           AMENDMENTS OF 2003

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 22, 2003

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to oppose this unfair 
rule and the underlying bill. I stand in solidarity with my colleagues 
who believe that this body should act in the best interests of all 
Americans and not only the few. I also stand to speak for those 
Americans who are not here to speak for themselves. I am here to say 
that many of them are hurting. They are unemployed and their Federal 
unemployment benefits are about to run out. Beyond the unemployed 
individuals themselves, there are countless children and families who 
depend on them. They are hurting, too.
  If this bill is passed without amendment over 69,000 Texans will be 
left out. That is almost 70,000 people from my State who will not be 
helped by the Republicans bill. Furthermore, this summer, 39,000 Texans 
will face the end of their Federal unemployment benefits. That is 
disgraceful and it is wrong.
  Mr. Speaker, in my district, the unemployment rate is 6.2 percent. In 
Texas, there are over \3/4\ of a million people who are unemployed. 
During the 2 years of this administration, thousands of jobs have been 
lost in my State. During that same period millions of jobs have been 
lost across the country. The Democrats have been trying to make that 
point to our colleagues on the other side of the aisle but they 
remained deaf to the people's concerns.
  Soon across the United States more than 1 million Americans will have 
exhausted both their state and Federal unemployment benefits yet they 
will still be unemployed. There are now 3.4 unemployed workers for 
every one job opening. As a result of the weak economy, this country 
has lost more than 500,000 jobs Justin the last 3 months. In fact, 70 
percent more workers have currently exhausted their Federal benefits 
than during the recession of the early 1990s.
  According to the Joint Economic Committee, the persistence of job 
losses at the 2-year mark in this recession is unprecedented since the 
Great Depression. That is a stunning fact. And it is the reason, the 
legislation put forth by the Democrats calls for $18 billion to extend 
and strengthen unemployment benefits this year. The Republican bill on 
the other hand only provides $6 billion.
  Our Republican colleagues have failed to do anything to help the 
millions of Americans who need jobs. Rather than re-igniting the 
economy so that job creation would occur, the Republicans have passed 
staggering tax cuts that benefit the wealthy far more than the average 
working or unemployed person. Now the Republicans put forth this bill 
in an effort to persuade the American people that they are listening 
and responding to the needs of the unemployed. However, their bill does 
not do enough.
  When we have the opportunity to help all unemployed workers why don't 
we take that opportunity? When we know that more people will need 
assistance 2 months from today, why don't we offer it to them? When we 
have the chance to provide help for the families of long-term 
unemployed people while they struggle to make ends meet and to find 
another job--any job that will allow them to take care of their 
families--why don't we do so? These are the questions I pose to my 
Republican colleagues.
  When Republicans have the chance to do more to help the families of 
the unemployed they decide not to do so and instead propose this 
perfunctory bill that will help some but not enough. That is the most 
egregious element of this bill. They choose to leave out many Americans 
when the Democrats would include them. If the Republicans would allow 
the substitute bill to be heard on the floor they would learn that the 
Democrats have a better piece of legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, if this rule is not defeated I will vote in favor of 
this amendment but I will continue to push for a stronger bill that 
helps more Americans. And I will continue to work for legislation that 
helps put Americans back to work.

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