[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 176 (Wednesday, November 19, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2256]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION EXTENSION ACT OF 2008

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 3, 2008

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, although am disappointed that White 
House opposition will prevent the House-passed $63 billion stimulus 
package from becoming law this year, we have at least reached 
bipartisan agreement on this seven week extension of unemployment 
benefits for our neighbors still looking for work in this struggling 
economy.
  Today's unemployment report was not good: 159,000 jobs lost in 
September--the worst job loss in five years, on top of 600,000 jobs 
already lost in 2008. The Federal Unemployment Trust Fund currently has 
more than enough reserves to cover the cost of this extension, and 
nearly 800,000 workers will exhaust their benefits if this legislation 
isn't enacted into law. For their benefit, and the benefit of our 
economy, I urge my colleagues' support and yield back the balance of my 
time.

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