[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 174 (Tuesday, November 25, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S15954-S15955]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION

  Mr. LEVIN. Madam President, after the Senate adjourns for the year, 
the plan is for the Senate to reconvene on January 20 of next year. 
Unless Congress acts to extend Federal unemployment benefits, the so-
called Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation Program, before we 
adjourn, hundreds of thousands of unemployed Americans face the 
holidays with the prospect of losing their unemployment benefits on 
January 1. This lack of action would put us in exactly the same 
situation as last year: going home to our loved ones without helping 
jobless Americans during the holiday season.
  At a minimum, we should extend the current Federal Unemployment 
Assistance Program for 6 months. At a minimum, we should stand by 
America's workers and help the unemployed during this holiday season.
  According to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, in January, 
about 90,000 current unemployed workers are likely to exhaust their 
regular State benefits each week. Absent congressional action, starting 
January 1 next year, workers who exhaust their regular State benefits 
will no longer be eligible for the additional Federal benefits. The 
only people who will continue to receive those benefits will be those 
who have begun to receive their Federal benefits by January 1.
  This chart shows where we are in terms of the Federal benefits. In 
the recession of 1974-1975, there were Federal benefits accumulating to 
29 weeks. That is in addition to the 26 weeks of State benefits. In the 
1981-1982 recession, again, 29 weeks of Federal benefits. In the 1990-
1991 recession, 26 weeks of Federal benefits. Currently, until December 
31 of this year, there will be 13 weeks of Federal benefits that are 
offered in addition to the 26 weeks in each of our States. That is what 
will disappear December 31.
  This is a very modest program we have going. This is half of what we 
have done in the prior two recessions in terms of Federal benefits, 
slightly less than half of what we did in the recessions of 1974-1975 
and 1981-1982, but exactly half of what we did in the 1990-1991 
recession.
  Currently, we only have 13 weeks of Federal benefits. This is going 
to run out on December 31 unless we act before we leave.
  Some contend the issue of whether or not to extend the program and in 
what form can be dealt with when we return on January 20. I believe, 
however, by the time January 20 rolls around, it is going to be too 
late. In fact, we know it will be too late for thousands of unemployed 
who will have exhausted their benefits. So action is needed today. It 
is needed now or else this Federal benefit program, which is a modest 
program--again, I emphasize, half of what we have done in prior 
recessions--unless this is reauthorized today, it is going to run out 
and hundreds of thousands of unemployed Americans are going to see 
their benefits exhausted without the benefit of the Federal program.
  In the month of January alone--this coming January--as many as 
400,000 unemployed workers are going to exhaust their State benefits if 
we don't act.
  The number of long-term jobless--that is the people who have been 
jobless 6 months or more--grew in October to over 2 million workers for 
the first time since this recession began. That represents an increase 
of over 700,000 workers compared to March 2002 when the current Federal 
unemployment program was most recently authorized.

  The Federal extended benefits program which was implemented in the 
last recession did not end until the economy had added nearly 3 million 
jobs to the prerecession level. The current unemployment program is 
scheduled to end, although there are 3 million fewer private sector 
jobs than when this recession began.
  Renewing this Temporary Emergency Unemployment Compensation Program, 
this Federal benefits program, is essential under these circumstances. 
The comparison on this chart is dramatic between what we did in prior 
recessions and this recession.
  In prior recessions, we had twice the level of Federal benefits as we 
do now. We have a modest 13 weeks, half the level, and in the prior 
recession we waited to end the Federal program until millions of new 
jobs had been created.
  Unless we act today, we will have lost 3 million jobs and still will 
be ending a Federal program which is so critically essential to those 
people who are unemployed.
  The Department of Labor's announcement that 125,000 jobs were created 
in October and that the unemployment rate dropped to 6 percent, the 
first decline since I don't know how long--I don't have the exact date 
here, but in a long time--presents a glimmer of hope. It is a glimmer 
of hope at least in some places, but in my home State of Michigan the 
unemployment rate is 7.6 percent.
  We, like most other States, are very dependent upon a minimum level 
of unemployment benefits. It would be unconscionable for this Congress 
to leave without renewing this program.
  Factory employment in America declined for the 39th consecutive month 
by eliminating approximately 24,000 manufacturing jobs. So even though 
we had that slight increase in jobs in October, for the first time 
really, we are seeing a slight up-tick in the total number of jobs. We 
have at least some jobs being created. In the manufacturing sector, for 
the 39th consecutive month, we lost tens of thousands of manufacturing 
jobs.
  America's manufacturing core has shed an average of over 50,000 jobs 
a month for the last 12 months. These manufacturing jobs, which build 
and sustain America's middle class, are disappearing. A total of over 
2.5 million

[[Page S15955]]

manufacturing jobs have been lost in the last few years. These are jobs 
that are good paying jobs, provide good health benefits and good 
retirement security. We simply cannot afford to let these jobs leave 
our country or be lost for good.
  In the meantime, while we are fighting the battle for manufacturing 
jobs, we should not go home for the holidays having failed to act to 
maintain the very modest Federal unemployment benefits program. I know 
there are many in this body who are determined to see us have the 
opportunity to act to extend this program before we leave for the 
recess.
  I thank the Chair and I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Washington.

                          ____________________