[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 158 (Tuesday, September 30, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2167]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            JOB CREATION AND UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF ACT OF 2008

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 26, 2008

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 
7110, the Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act. Millions of 
Americans are struggling to make ends meet during these extremely 
difficult economic times. The budgets of American families are being 
squeezed as the price of gas, food, housing and healthcare continue to 
increase, while wages are down and unemployment is up. The number of 
unemployed Americans is the highest it has been since 1992. The economy 
has lost jobs for 8 straight months, with 605,000 American jobs lost 
this year. Last month alone, 84,000 Americans lost their jobs.
  In February, I was pleased to vote in favor of the first economic 
stimulus package when it passed the House. However, I was disappointed 
that, because of Republican opposition and the need to move the bill 
quickly, it did not include increases in unemployment benefits, Food 
Stamps, Medicaid payments to States, Low Income Home Energy Assistance 
Program benefits, or infrastructure investments, all of which would 
have a significant stimulative effect on our economy. As a result, a 
number of studies have concluded that the stimulus package only had a 
negligible effect on our economy.
  Seven months later, the recession has only worsened. The crisis on 
Wall Street continues to expand, with the largest bank collapse in our 
Nation's history occurring on Thursday, and more and more banks coming 
to government, hat in hand, asking to be bailed out. The time has come 
to take care of the millions of working families across America who 
have been struggling for years under the Bush economy, before we swoop 
in to rescue Wall Street with billions of taxpayer dollars.
  H.R. 7110 provides a critical additional 7 weeks of extended benefits 
for workers who have exhausted regular unemployment compensation, with 
workers in high unemployment States eligible for an additional 13 weeks 
of benefits. Studies have shown that extending unemployment insurance 
is one of the quickest forms of economic stimulus because workers who 
have lost their jobs spend those benefits quickly.
  This package also provides a crucial temporary increase in Medicaid 
payments to States. These funds will help States offset the increased 
cost of Medicaid as more people apply for assistance while healthcare 
costs continue to skyrocket While Governor Blagojevich is struggling to 
maintain benefits in Illinois, we have already seen other States 
cutting eligibility and services, and more reductions will occur if we 
do not provide increased temporary assistance. As we know from past 
financial downturns when we took similar action, increased Federal 
payments are not only important to the children, senior citizens, 
persons with disabilities and others who rely on Medicaid but will 
stimulate the economy quickly and substantially as well.
  Finally, this package also contains $12.8 billion for our Nation's 
deteriorating highways and bridges; $1 billion for repair and 
construction projects of public housing units; and $3 billion to repair 
crumbling schools, including technology upgrades and energy-efficiency 
improvements, which likewise will have an immediate stimulative effect 
on the economy. These projects provide short-term benefit by putting 
people to work immediately--with funding, work can begin on many of 
them tomorrow--and they provide long-term improvements that will 
benefit Americans for years to come.
  This is an excellent package, and I urge all my colleagues to join me 
in creating good jobs and providing assistance to those struggling in 
today's economy.

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