[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 26 (Friday, February 26, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S822]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          INTENTION TO OBJECT

  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, consistent with Senate standing orders and 
my policy of publishing in the Congressional Record a statement 
whenever I place a hold on legislation, I am announcing my intention to 
object to any unanimous consent request to proceed to legislation 
extending any expiring laws that does not include extension of 
unemployment benefits and COBRA health insurance benefits.
  Last night, there was an attempt to extend some laws that expire at 
the end of the month without extending the enhanced unemployment 
insurance and COBRA health insurance benefits that were enacted as part 
of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. I objected to that 
attempt.
  I did so because Oregon currently has one of the highest unemployment 
rates in the Nation with an unemployment rate of 11 percent. Extension 
of unemployment benefits is critical for many unemployed Oregonians who 
are in jeopardy of running out of benefits if they are not extended 
before the end of this month. What's worse, many jobless Oregonians and 
unemployed workers in other States lose their health benefits when they 
lose their jobs, leaving them without either income or health care. In 
order to ensure unemployed workers in Oregon and other States will not 
be left without these critical, lifeline benefits, I am announcing my 
objection to any unanimous consent to extend other expiring laws, 
unless extension of unemployment benefits and COBRA benefits are 
included as part of the legislation.
  I have no objection to the Senate proceeding to H.R. 4213 to provide 
for certain extenders because extension of unemployment and COBRA 
benefits are included as part of that legislation.

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