[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 28, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E66-E67]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         UNEMPLOYMENT EXTENSION

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RUSH D. HOLT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 28, 2004

  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give voice to millions of 
unemployed American workers. The citizens I speak of are the very 
people who keep the United States of America open for business each 
day. However as we are gathered here today, these people are, 
desperately searching for work so that they may provide food for their 
families, keep a roof over their heads, and save money to send their 
children to college and one day enjoy a well-deserved retirement. In 
December we failed to aid these people by not extending the benefits 
provided under Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) for 
millions of unemployed citizens, we now have the chance to succeed 
where we failed before.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of these Americans, who are our constituents, 
our neighbors, and the people who have entrusted us with the care of 
our nation, it is essential that we renew their unemployment benefits, 
and it is essential that we do it now. At the close of last year we 
failed to renew these benefits under TEUC for as many as 450,000 
unemployed workers and instead of families spending quality time with 
each other, exchanging gifts, and rejoicing in the new year, the 
bottoms of Christmas trees were left bare and the countdown to the New 
Year was a time for fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters to hope 
2004 might be better. Middle class Americans cannot sustain the 
American dream while not receiving any income for three or four months, 
or even longer. We owe them this

[[Page E67]]

continued assistance until this economy can provide them with jobs they 
desperately want again.
  Mr. Speaker, the Congress must make the plight of middle class 
America its number one concern. Without the temporary extension of 
unemployment benefits under TEUC, Americans will continue to struggle 
to pay the bills in this still-weak job market. By extending the 
unemployment benefits for an additional six months, it will grant more 
time for unemployed Americans to find new jobs. While experts could 
explain various aspects about the business and economic cycles and how 
companies will begin hiring again in the future, this does not solve 
the present problem of how bread winners are going to pay bills and how 
food is going to get into the stomachs of children so that when they go 
to school, their day is spent learning and not focusing on the pain in 
their gut.
  Mr. Speaker, to this end I submit that we not hesitate in renewing 
unemployment benefits and spend the taxpayers dollars on the soundest 
investment of all, the American worker. Its long past time that these 
unemployed workers get the benefits they deserve and time for us as a 
Congress to vote to restore the Temporary Extended Unemployment 
Compensation program.

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