[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 190 (Tuesday, December 15, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H14887]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     WE NEED TO HELP THE UNEMPLOYED

  (Mr. COHEN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, The New York Times and CBS released a poll 
recently that showed what the feelings are and the effects of 
unemployment on Americans. We've had 10 percent unemployment and many 
people that are long-term unemployed. The effects are devastating.
  People who are unemployed are more likely not to have health 
insurance and have difficulty and give up getting medical care. That 
costs the public later with emergency room visits and costs us more 
money. They have more problems with depression and anxiety, and yet 
can't afford medical treatment. Again, problems arise. They have lost 
their homes, neighborhoods suffer, crime increases, neighborhood values 
decrease.
  The loss of jobs has hurt millions of Americans and others because of 
the effects on the economy, on government, and on neighborhoods. But 
the people who have lost their jobs know why they have lost their jobs. 
Twenty-six percent specifically say the reason they've lost their jobs 
is because of President Bush and the policies that were brought about 
during the time he was President. That is obvious. The second largest 
group is Wall Street bankers. We need to help the unemployed. We need 
to find jobs.

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