[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 95 (Tuesday, June 10, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H5115-H5116]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1015
   ANOTHER MONTH OF JOB LOSSES: CONGRESS SHOULD EXTEND UNEMPLOYMENT 
                               INSURANCE

  (Mr. YARMUTH asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. YARMUTH. Madam Speaker, every month this year our economy has 
shed more jobs than it has produced. Last month was no exception; 
49,000 jobs were lost nationwide and unemployment rose from 5 percent 
in April to 5.5 percent in May. That is the largest 1 month increase in 
20 years.
  As job losses continue on a monthly basis, it is becoming 
increasingly difficult for the unemployed to find jobs, and it is 
expected to get even worse. That is why last month this Congress passed 
legislation to extend unemployment benefits for an additional 13 weeks.
  Today, more than 1 million people have exhausted all of their 
benefits. Washington should provide these workers some additional 
relief as they continue to pursue a job through these rough times. Yet 
President Bush and congressional Republicans oppose the unemployment 
insurance extension, even though they supported a similar extension in 
2002 when economic conditions were not nearly as hard as they are 
today.

[[Page H5116]]

  Madam Speaker, the May jobs report should serve as a wake-up call to 
President Bush and congressional Republicans to support our efforts to 
extend unemployment insurance.

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