[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 135 (Wednesday, September 23, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2345]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      AGAINST PASSAGE OF H.R. 3548

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                           HON. BOB GOODLATTE

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 23, 2009

  Mr. GOODLATTE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to discuss H.R. 3548, the 
Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2009.
  Madam Speaker, let there be no doubt that I understand that our 
economy faces historic and unprecedented challenges and I will remain 
committed to working with Members of Congress on both sides of the 
aisle to enact responsible legislation which puts money back into the 
hands of those who can really turn our economy around--the American 
people and small businesses.
  However, H.R. 3548 extends the current unemployment benefits 
extension program, as established by the FY 2008 supplemental, and 
extended in two subsequent acts, by an extra 13 weeks for only those 
States with unemployment rates above 8.5%. Enactment of H.R. 3548 would 
cause individuals in States with unemployment rates in excess of 8.5% 
to be eligible for benefits for a total duration of 92 weeks.
  Madam Speaker, like you, I believe that a key component of an 
economic recovery plan is assistance for the unemployed. Unfortunately, 
this legislation would only apply to unemployed individuals in 29 
States with unemployment rates above 8.5%. To be clear, individuals in 
21 other States would be ineligible to receive compensation under this 
legislation. Virginia's current unemployment rate stands at 6.5%. Thus, 
Virginia residents are not eligible for these benefits. I cannot 
support legislation that does not allow Virginia residents to benefit 
from the formulas adopted under this legislation
  Even more egregious is that businesses in Virginia and other excluded 
States are required to foot the bill for these benefits via the 
extension of the Federal Unemployment surtax through 2010. This tax 
would otherwise expire at the end of this year. Madam Speaker, I cannot 
support legislation that imposes a tax on businesses in Virginia when 
funds generated under this tax will be of zero benefit to the residents 
of Virginia, or the remaining 20 States in the Nation.
  There are many counties and cities in Virginia that have unemployment 
rates above 8.5% and yet citizens living in those areas who are 
unemployed will receive no benefits from this legislation even as 
employers in the same areas will pay taxes taking money out of the 
local economy and seeing it circulate instead in some other part of the 
country for the arbitrary reason that statewide unemployment is above a 
particular percentage. Further, the individual who is out of a job and 
can't find another is suffering through the same situation for 
themselves and their families no matter where they live. Madam Speaker, 
this legislation is unfair to my constituents and that is why I voted 
against it.

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