[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 101 (Thursday, July 1, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H5321-H5327]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                              {time}  1310
     RESTORATION OF EMERGENCY UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION ACT OF 2010

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to H. Res. 1495, I call up the bill 
(H.R. 5618) to continue Federal unemployment programs, and ask for its 
immediate consideration.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 1495, the 
amendment printed in House Report 111-519 is adopted, and the bill, as 
amended, is considered read.
  The text of the bill, as amended, is as follows:

                               H. R. 5618

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Restoration of Emergency 
     Unemployment Compensation Act of 2010''.

     SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROVISIONS.

       (a) In General.--(1) Section 4007 of the Supplemental 
     Appropriations Act, 2008 (Public Law 110-252; 26 U.S.C. 3304 
     note) is amended--
       (A) by striking ``June 2, 2010'' each place it appears and 
     inserting ``November 30, 2010'';
       (B) in the heading for subsection (b)(2), by striking 
     ``june 2, 2010'' and inserting ``november 30, 2010''; and
       (C) in subsection (b)(3), by striking ``November 6, 2010'' 
     and inserting ``April 30, 2011''.
       (2) Section 2005 of the Assistance for Unemployed Workers 
     and Struggling Families Act, as contained in Public Law 111-5 
     (26 U.S.C. 3304 note; 123 Stat. 444), is amended--
       (A) by striking ``June 2, 2010'' each place it appears and 
     inserting ``December 1, 2010''; and
       (B) in subsection (c), by striking ``November 6, 2010'' and 
     inserting ``May 1, 2011''.
       (3) Section 5 of the Unemployment Compensation Extension 
     Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-449; 26 U.S.C. 3304 note) is 
     amended by striking ``November 6, 2010'' and inserting 
     ``April 30, 2011''.
       (b) Funding.--Section 4004(e)(1) of the Supplemental 
     Appropriations Act, 2008 (Public Law 110-252; 26 U.S.C. 3304 
     note) is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``and'' at the end; 
     and
       (2) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following:
       ``(F) the amendments made by section 2(a)(1) of the 
     Restoration of Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act of 
     2010; and''.
       (c) Conditions for Receiving Emergency Unemployment 
     Compensation.--Section 4001(d)(2) of the Supplemental 
     Appropriations Act, 2008 (Public Law 110-252; 26 U.S.C. 3304 
     note) is amended, in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), 
     by inserting before ``shall apply'' the following: 
     ``(including terms and conditions relating to availability 
     for work, active search for work, and refusal to accept 
     work)''.
       (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall take effect as if included in the enactment of the 
     Continuing Extension Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-157).

     SEC. 3. COORDINATION OF EMERGENCY UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION 
                   WITH REGULAR COMPENSATION.

       (a) Certain Individuals Not Ineligible by Reason of New 
     Entitlement to Regular Benefits.--Section 4002 of the 
     Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 (Public Law 110-252; 26 
     U.S.C. 3304 note) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(g) Coordination of Emergency Unemployment Compensation 
     With Regular Compensation.--
       ``(1) If--
       ``(A) an individual has been determined to be entitled to 
     emergency unemployment compensation with respect to a benefit 
     year,
       ``(B) that benefit year has expired,
       ``(C) that individual has remaining entitlement to 
     emergency unemployment compensation with respect to that 
     benefit year, and
       ``(D) that individual would qualify for a new benefit year 
     in which the weekly benefit amount of regular compensation is 
     at least either $100 or 25 percent less than the individual's 
     weekly benefit amount in the benefit year referred to in 
     subparagraph (A),
     then the State shall determine eligibility for compensation 
     as provided in paragraph (2).
       ``(2) For individuals described in paragraph (1), the State 
     shall determine whether the individual is to be paid 
     emergency unemployment compensation or regular compensation 
     for a week of unemployment using one of the following 
     methods:
       ``(A) The State shall, if permitted by State law, establish 
     a new benefit year, but defer the payment of regular 
     compensation with respect to that new benefit year until 
     exhaustion of all emergency unemployment compensation payable 
     with respect to the benefit year referred to in paragraph 
     (1)(A);
       ``(B) The State shall, if permitted by State law, defer the 
     establishment of a new benefit year (which uses all the wages 
     and employment which would have been used to establish a 
     benefit year but for the application of this paragraph), 
     until exhaustion of all emergency unemployment compensation 
     payable with respect to the benefit year referred to in 
     paragraph (1)(A);
       ``(C) The State shall pay, if permitted by State law--
       ``(i) regular compensation equal to the weekly benefit 
     amount established under the new benefit year, and
       ``(ii) emergency unemployment compensation equal to the 
     difference between that weekly benefit amount and the weekly 
     benefit amount for the expired benefit year; or
       ``(D) The State shall determine rights to emergency 
     unemployment compensation without regard to any rights to 
     regular compensation if the individual elects to not file a 
     claim for regular compensation under the new benefit year.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section 
     shall apply to individuals whose benefit years, as described 
     in section 4002(g)(1)(B) the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 
     2008 (Public Law 110-252; 26 U.S.C. 3304 note), as amended by 
     this section, expire after the date of enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 4. REQUIRING STATES TO NOT REDUCE REGULAR COMPENSATION 
                   IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDS UNDER THE 
                   EMERGENCY UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION PROGRAM.

       Section 4001 of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 
     (Public Law 110-252; 26 U.S.C. 3304 note) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(g) Nonreduction Rule.--An agreement under this section 
     shall not apply (or shall cease to apply) with respect to a 
     State upon a determination by the Secretary that the method 
     governing the computation of regular compensation under the 
     State law of that State has been modified in a manner such 
     that--
       ``(1) the average weekly benefit amount of regular 
     compensation which will be payable during the period of the 
     agreement occurring on or after June 2, 2010 (determined 
     disregarding any additional amounts attributable to the 
     modification described in section 2002(b)(1) of the 
     Assistance for Unemployed Workers and Struggling Families 
     Act, as contained in Public Law 111-5 (26 U.S.C. 3304 note; 
     123 Stat. 438)), will be less than
       ``(2) the average weekly benefit amount of regular 
     compensation which would otherwise have been payable during 
     such period under the State law, as in effect on June 2, 
     2010.''.

     SEC. 5. PROCEDURES.

       Section 4001 of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 
     (Public Law 110-252; 26 U.S.C. 3304 note), as amended by 
     section 4, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     subsection:
       ``(h) Procedures.--Any state with an agreement under this 
     Act shall implement reasonable procedures to--
       ``(1) ensure that benefits under this Act are not provided 
     to any person who appears on any current list of known or 
     suspected terrorists provided to the State by any government 
     agency;
       ``(2) ensure that benefits under this Act are not provided 
     to any individual convicted of a sex offense against a minor 
     (as such terms are defined in section 111 of the Sex Offender 
     Registration and Notification Act (42 U.S.C. 16911)); and
       ``(3) ensure that the State is enforcing requirements under 
     subsection (f) of this section to bar unauthorized aliens 
     from receiving emergency unemployment compensation under this 
     Act.

     SEC. 6. BUDGETARY PROVISIONS.

       (a) Statutory PAYGO.--The budgetary effects of this Act, 
     for the purpose of complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go 
     Act of 2010, shall be determined by reference to the latest 
     statement titled `Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation' for 
     this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record 
     by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that 
     such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on 
     passage.
       (b) Emergency Designations.--Sections 2 and 3--
       (1) are designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to 
     section 4(g) of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 
     (Public Law 111-139; 2 U.S.C. 933(g));
       (2) in the House of Representatives, are designated as an 
     emergency for purposes of pay-as-you-go principles; and
       (3) in the Senate, are designated as an emergency 
     requirement pursuant to section 403(a) of S. Con. Res. 13 
     (111th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for 
     fiscal year 2010.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin) and 
the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Camp) each will control 30 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin).
  Mr. LEVIN. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, during the rule, a Member of the minority came here 
regarding the plight of millions of unemployed who were losing their 
unemployment insurance, saying that he came to the floor with a heavy 
heart. I think the unemployed and all of America welcome heavy hearts, 
but if there isn't a helping hand, a heavy heart doesn't work. So, 
within this framework, I want to list very briefly the basic facts for 
everyone to consider and for all of our country to hear.
  The 1.7 million unemployed workers, unemployed through no fault of 
their

[[Page H5322]]

own and who are looking for work, will have lost their benefits by the 
end of this week--1.7 million. By the end of next week, if there is not 
action, 2.1 million. By the middle of July, when Congress can address 
this issue again, 2.5 million. The average unemployment insurance in 
this country is about $300 a week. That is about half of the previous 
wage on average, and for a family of four, that average check is only 
74 percent of the poverty level. That should refute the notion that 
those who are unemployed, who have no benefits, who have lost their 
jobs through no fault of their own, are not looking for work.
  Indeed, the figure is very clear. For every job available, there are 
five unemployed workers. There is one other fact because this has been 
raised. It is the notion that this is unfunded. By the way, that is 
provided as an emergency under statutory PAYGO. Under both Democratic 
and Republican Congresses, under both Democratic and Republican 
administrations, UI has been extended on an emergency basis. It is hard 
to understand how anybody can come to this floor and say for 1.7 
million people and their families this is not an emergency. There is no 
excuse for voting ``no.''
  It is said that the Senate is out of session. We must send this so 
that it is the first item of business they take up when they return.
  I will finish with this: it did not pass the Senate last night. The 
only reason was that there could not be found more than two Republicans 
to vote for this extension. That is a shame, and it is shameful. We 
need to, within our ranks in this House, lift that shame off the 
shoulders of everybody in this institution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CAMP. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I would just say to my friend from Michigan that not 
even Democrat Senator Ben Nelson supported the bill last night. I know 
my friend is trying to paint this as a totally Republican issue, but 
there were Democrat Senators who didn't support the bill, and I 
mentioned one of them.
  Let me just say that I realize this is about Republicans and 
Democrats who care about the future of this country. Yet it is said 
that Albert Einstein once defined insanity as doing the same thing over 
and over again and expecting a different result. Well, that's exactly 
what the Democrats are doing today--trying to pass, for the third time, 
an unpaid-for extension of unemployment benefits that the Senate 
Republicans and Democrats--and the American people--have repeatedly 
rejected. In fact, just last night, the Senate again said, thanks, but 
no thanks, to this fiscal insanity. Democrats should put an end to this 
sham and should pay for this $34 billion spending bill so unemployed 
Americans can get the help they deserve.
  Let me be clear: I support and Republicans have supported extending 
unemployment benefits, but we must not do so at a cost to the deficit, 
to the economy, and to future generations. Our inability to get our 
fiscal house in order isn't just damaging future generations; it is 
wreaking havoc on job creation today. Surely, if Congress can find 
money to protect doctors, then we can find money to protect the 
unemployed.
  On Tuesday, the House defeated this same bill, one that would add $34 
billion to the deficit under a process that banned any amendments, 
including any efforts to pay for this bill. Again today, we are on the 
floor, under a process that bans all amendments. Any attempt for us to 
offer a way to pay for this legislation is banned under the Democrat 
autocratic rule of this House.
  The only way we can address this issue is to offer a motion to 
recommit to actually pay for benefits. There is a way to pay for this 
spending, and it is something we ought to do. Any Member who is serious 
about reining in the deficit should vote in favor of this MTR. There is 
an inability or an unwillingness--or both--on the part of the Democrats 
to pay for this bill. Unemployment benefits have been expired for 
almost a month, leaving hundreds of thousands of long-term unemployed 
people without the benefits they need, and that number grows every 
week.
  Let me repeat that fact. Americans are not receiving their 
unemployment checks because Democrats refuse to pay for these benefits 
at a time of record Federal deficits.

                              {time}  1320

  As I said on Tuesday, the American people know it isn't right to 
simply add the cost of this spending to our already-overdrawn national 
credit card. They want us to help those in need, but they also know 
that someone has to pay when government spends money. That assistance 
must not put our fiscal house as a nation in even worse shape, and we 
are already in terrible shape.
  The stimulus hasn't worked. In its wake, nearly 3 million private-
sector jobs were lost, unemployment soared to 10 percent nationwide, 
and 48 out of 50 States lost jobs. The American people should not be 
punished for the failure of the stimulus, and our children and 
grandchildren should not be punished for the failure of this Congress 
to act in a fiscally responsible manner.
  Even the administration has agreed in the past that paying for 
unemployment benefits, and I quote, ``is fiscally responsible, and that 
fiscal responsibility is central to the medium-term recovery of the 
economy and the creation of jobs.''
  That is a quote from the Statement of Administration Policy on a bill 
last fall extending these same benefits, the only one of eight 
unemployment extensions so far that was fully paid for.
  So let's heed their admonition. Reject this bill, as the Senate 
already has, and vote to support the unemployed in favor of a fiscally 
responsible way by supporting the motion to recommit.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LEVIN. It is now my privilege to yield 5 minutes to the chairman 
of the subcommittee, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. McDermott).
  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, we are back today to try again to do the 
right thing for America's unemployed workers and the right thing for 
our economy.
  Two days ago the Republicans in the House voted down a bill to 
continue unemployment benefits for anyone because they had lost their 
job through no fault of their own. But just last night the Republicans 
in the other body followed suit, blocking legislation again that would 
have restored and continued benefits. Their opposition was based on the 
fact that we have just heard a long speech about, it wasn't paid for. 
What a joke. It wasn't paid for.
  This is support that is going to hardworking Americans who have 
played by the rules, paid into the system, and maybe were making 
$50,000, $60,000 a year a few weeks ago. These people who spend every 
day looking for work and have sent out hundreds of resumes, many of 
which are not even responded to, they paid for this by paying taxes in 
the past. And with five people competing for every available job, they 
simply cannot find work, no matter how qualified and educated they are, 
in the worst economy in 70 years.
  Republicans seem like they could care less. They claim we cannot 
afford to help the unemployed. Well, you have to forgive my shock in 
hearing this, since they had no problem with spending $1 trillion on 
two wars, not one penny of which was paid for. They voted for all those 
wars. Now they say they can't afford to help unemployed Americans.
  The Bush administration presided over the implosion of the housing 
market and a world economic collapse. Greece, Ireland, and Iceland, you 
look around the world, they came in that era, they asked for bank 
bailouts. I remember Secretary Paulson in here with his one sheet of 
paper asking for $700 billion, none of it paid for, to bail out banks 
and insurance companies. And Republicans were happy to provide two 
massive tax cuts for the wealthy that also weren't paid for. And yet 
now they say we can't afford to help the unemployed.
  Republicans have spent money like kids in a candy store when they 
were in charge, but now they say there is nothing left for unemployed 
Americans. Republicans spent years helping Bush turn the largest budget 
surplus in our Nation's history into the biggest deficit. But today 
they claim they are defenders of our budget, and they say we can't help 
the unemployed. They can help them on the top, but they can't help the 
people on the bottom. They can stand quietly while the bankers pass out 
bonuses by the billions to

[[Page H5323]]

their managers, and we don't have a nickel for the unemployed.
  Here is the bottom line: If we fail to act, nearly two million 
Americans will have lost their unemployment benefits by the end of this 
week, and that number will grow higher in the weeks to come. More homes 
will go into foreclosure, because if you don't have money, you don't 
pay your rent. Consumer demand will decline and more people will 
permanently be out of the labor force.
  All of this is bad for the economy--never mind the unemployed, just 
think about the economy--and that is ultimately bad for the Federal 
budget. Not one Democrat in this room, including me, wants to add a 
cent to the deficit. We don't want to do this. But we also know it is 
the right thing to do now, helping millions of Americans keep their 
heads above water while they desperately look for work.
  Last night, millions of families in every corner of America had 
trouble putting dinner on the table because of this foolishness. I 
don't know how anyone is going to go to a Fourth of July parade or 
picnic after voting ``no'' on this, but I am sure you will. It is 
hypocritical and it is callous.
  In case you missed yesterday reading The New York Times, I suggest 
you find a copy and take a look at the editorial. They wrote on 
unemployment, ``Deficits matter. We all agree on that. But not more 
than economic recovery and not more urgently than the economic survival 
of millions of Americans.''
  I sincerely hope these words affect somebody in this body. And when 
you go to that Fourth of July parade, don't be surprised at the 
response you may get if you vote ``no'' on this.
  Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield 3 minutes to a 
distinguished member of the Ways and Means Committee, the gentleman 
from Georgia (Mr. Linder).
  Mr. LINDER. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, we are asked to believe that $34 billion in spending in 
this new bill is an emergency and thus need not be paid for. But since 
this is the eighth extension of UI benefits in the past 2 years, 
Members need to ask, can the eighth bill do anything that is still 
really a budget emergency?
  In those two years, and counting the bill before us, we will have 
spent $125 billion in Federal tax dollars for UI benefits. We have paid 
for exactly $2 billion of that, and done so by raising taxes on jobs. 
That is a lot of unpaid-for emergency spending. All because of a 
bankrupt ideology on the other side that thinks the unemployed are 
somehow helped more when we use borrowed money to provide benefits than 
when we cut some other spending to actually pay for them.
  In the real world, people set priorities. They buy one thing, but not 
another, if they can't afford both. But in this House, which can't be 
bothered to consider a budget even in time of record deficits and debt, 
setting priorities is far too much to expect.
  Yet that sort of priority setting is exactly what we were promised 
with the Democrats' PAYGO rules. Here is how the President said they 
would work. ``Now Congress will have to pay for what it spends, just 
like everybody else. After a decade of profligacy, the American people 
are tired of politicians who talk the talk but don't walk the walk when 
it comes to fiscal responsibility.''
  Despite that lofty rhetoric, Democrats included an emergency spending 
trapdoor in their PAYGO rules, so anything that is used to declare an 
``emergency'' doesn't have to be paid for.
  The gentleman from Michigan, Mr. Levin, earlier this week repeatedly 
said there were no excuses for not supporting this legislation, but 
excuses and tax hikes are all the other side offers when it comes to 
actually paying for their spending. What is the excuse for that--that 
there is not enough spending around to cut? Tell that to one of your 
constituents over the next week.

                              {time}  1330

  Fortunately, the American people are catching on. Last week, leading 
employers noted the Democrats' policies, including this record 
accumulation of debt, are hostile to job creation, and more people 
think Elvis is alive than believe Democrats' trillion-dollar stimulus 
created jobs. Unemployed workers want real jobs, not 2 years of 
unemployment benefits. But all this Congress offers is more debt and 
ultimately more pink slips. That is hardly what the unemployed need.
  I urge Members to oppose this bill and insist that any further 
spending is really paid for. That is the only hope for turning this 
economy around and actually creating jobs that Americans need.
  Mr. LEVIN. I now yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey 
(Mr. Pascrell), a member of the Ways and Means Committee.
  Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak for the unemployed. I've 
had more calls in my office in the last 2 weeks from those who have run 
out of benefits. That's a fact of life. The last speaker who talked 
about the unemployed and that they are better off without us helping 
them, figure that out. The unemployed are better off when they can put 
food on the table for their families. The unemployed are better off 
when they can pay their rent. That's when the unemployed are better 
off. And that doesn't happen by osmosis.
  This legislation is incredibly important because millions of 
Americans woke up this morning and will not be able to pay their rent, 
will not be able to pay their electric bill, will not be able to do at 
the grocery store what needs to be done.
  For years, there were policies that placed the extraordinarily 
wealthy people of this country--the big banks, the well-connected--
above seniors, above the middle class, above the American people. Just 
today, at one of the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission's hearings, 
you should have watched it when these guys wiggled in their chairs in 
answering the questions of the Commission of how we got into this mess.
  Look, there's enough blame to go around on both sides. But you guys 
were in charge--not us. Remember, 8 million jobs, millions of people's 
retirements lost, because of the recklessness of Wall Street. And we 
can't dig down and help those people who are unemployed--the extent of 
the time of unemployment we haven't seen in so many years. But if you 
go back to 2005, when we were warned of the clouds that were heading 
towards us, you will remember in those 2 years before that, 2003 to 
2005, the average salary and wage went down 1.5 percent.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentleman 1 additional minute.
  Mr. PASCRELL. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.


                Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair reminds all Members to address 
their remarks to the Chair.
  Mr. PASCRELL. During that period of time, which was a bellwether for 
what was going to happen--which was a distant early warning signal--why 
we couldn't understand where is this money going if everybody's making 
profits? And then we examined the record. Where was it going? It was 
going to corporate profits because nobody was watching. There was no 
oversight.
  These unemployed are suffering because of those profits in times 
where we were starting to tighten our belt and understand what was 
coming our way. The emergency unemployment compensation program began 
to phase out at the end of May, so this bill will retroactively restore 
those necessary benefits.
  This is dignity we're talking about. This is a man or woman looking 
at their families and saying, We are going to eat tomorrow; we are 
going to pay the electric bill; and we are going to pay the rent. I 
think this is important and critical.
  After two wars and after two massive tax cuts to help the rich--that 
you never paid for--you have the nerve to tell the unemployed people in 
this country that you must be wanting to be unemployed. ``I'm sorry, we 
cannot help you.'' But if you're part of corporate America and you 
stuck it to the Americans in the middle class of this country and the 
poor, ``That's all right. We'll find a way to bail you out.''
  Let's make sense. Let's be fair.
  Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I would say to my friend from New Jersey, we agree this is important.

[[Page H5324]]

This is important. This is so important that we believe that we should 
pay for this. And let me just quote the majority leader, who was on 
ABC's This Week, said, ``There is spending fatigue across the 
country.'' His words. And that he's encouraging the administration to 
look at last year's $787 billion stimulus package to see if some money 
can be redirected.
  I would just say, if this is so important, why not let us offer an 
amendment to use the unspent stimulus dollars to cut some other 
wasteful part of government to find some way to pay for this important 
program.
  That's all I say. If we could just get an agreement to offer an 
amendment to do that and move forward. But no, this bill comes to the 
floor under the most restrictive rule the House can possibly pass. We 
cannot offer any amendments. If this is that important, why not let us 
offer an amendment to find some way to pay for this bill?
  At this time I yield 2 minutes to a distinguished member of the Ways 
and Means Committee, the gentleman from Louisiana, Dr. Boustany.
  Mr. BOUSTANY. Mr. Speaker, I agree with my ranking member's remarks 
here. The gentleman from New Jersey made a very compelling emotional 
argument. We all agree that we have to do something. But the American 
people want us to pay for this. They have been speaking very loudly and 
very clearly. They're tired of the fiscal irresponsibility.
  Now our friends across the aisle here predicted that their trillion-
dollar stimulus would create 3.7 million jobs. Since then, what have we 
seen? Let's look at the record. Debt has grown by $2 trillion and 
nearly 3 million jobs have been lost, with unemployment hovering just 
under 10 percent.
  I think if our friends across the aisle would take the time and talk 
to the job creators in this country--the small business owners, the 
entrepreneurs--what they would find is that these tax-borrow-spend 
policies are creating tremendous uncertainty for the job creators--
small business owners across this country. And these policies are 
leading to more unemployment and more debt. Look at what the 
administration is advocating--a job-killing moratorium on exploration 
for oil in the deep water. This is going to kill potentially a couple 
hundred thousand jobs on the gulf coast. We need to get back to some 
real debate on these issues here.
  Now what does this bill do? It's $34 billion to extend the 
unemployment benefits. But it's not paid for. The American people want 
these policies paid for. And there's no reason why this couldn't have 
come to the floor with the opportunity for us to amend it and to have a 
real debate over some of the merits of this amendment of how we can pay 
for this. It's just not right. More debt, more uncertainty, more 
unemployment, higher taxes. The American people deserve better.
  Mr. LEVIN. I want to read quickly a report from the CBO regarding the 
recovery program, and I quote:
  ``It increased the number of full-time equivalent jobs by 1.8 million 
to 4.1 million compared with those amounts that would have been 
otherwise.''
  I now yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Georgia 
(Mr. Lewis), a very able member of our Ways and Means Committee.
  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, today we have been given another 
chance to do what is right for our unemployed brothers and sisters. We 
must extend unemployment insurance. It is the right thing to do. It is 
the moral thing to do. It is the compassionate thing to do.
  Those of you who have said that the unemployed are lazy or want a 
hand-out should be ashamed of yourselves. This is not a hand-out. 
People have paid into the system their whole working lives. The 
unemployed in this country want to work, they are desperate to work, 
and we must help them get by.
  I challenge each of you who plan to vote ``no'' to come to Georgia. 
Go into your own districts. I challenge you to look people in the eye 
and tell them that you voted ``no.'' I challenge you to tell the people 
that you value ideology more than empathy and compassion for your 
fellow man.

                              {time}  1340

  Tell them as they swallow their pride that you don't care, that you 
don't have a heart, that you don't have any feeling. Explain to them 
why you voted ``yes'' for war funding and ``yes'' for tax breaks for 
the rich but ``no'' for hardworking Americans who have lost their jobs 
through no fault of their own. It is wrong, just plain wrong.
  The time is always right to do what is right. Do not be afraid to be 
compassionate. Do not be afraid to vote with your heart and your 
conscience. Vote to extend unemployment, and extend it now. Do it for 
the people.


                Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair reminds all Members to address 
their remarks to the Chair.
  Mr. CAMP. At this time I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Nevada 
(Mr. Heller), a distinguished Member of the Ways and Means Committee.
  Mr. HELLER. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Last night, Mr. Speaker, I did a telephone town hall meeting in my 
district with more than 13,000 people on that telephone line with me. 
Hundreds of them wanted to ask questions. Obviously, I couldn't get to 
all of them, but of those that I could get to, 50 percent of them 
wanted to ask about unemployment. One woman said that without an 
unemployment extension, she wouldn't be able to pay for her car 
registration, her insurance, and was likely to lose her home soon. She 
worried about foreclosure and asked, if she couldn't register her car, 
how was she supposed to look for a job? Others had similar stories 
about the sacrifices that they needed to make in these tough times.
  These same Nevadans also know that the stimulus hasn't worked. 
President Obama promised no more than 8 percent unemployment. Maybe I'm 
confused. Maybe he meant 9 percent or 10 percent or 11 percent. Maybe 
he meant 12 percent, but that doesn't even reach the level of 
unemployment in my State of Nevada at 14 percent. I even have counties 
in my district north of 18 percent unemployment.
  Now, I'm one of many Republicans who support helping long-term 
unemployed people and have voted repeatedly to extend these benefits. 
As I mentioned, the largest county in my district, Washoe County, has 
13.3 percent unemployment. Clark County--for decades, the fastest-
growing county in my State, home of Las Vegas, two-thirds of the 
State's population--has an unemployment rate of more than 14 percent. 
And, as I mentioned, some counties 15 percent, 16 percent, even 18 
percent unemployment.
  This is unacceptable because these aren't just numbers. These are 
people. These are families who are hurting, losing their homes, unable 
to pay their bills, struggling to provide for their children. But even 
facing these serious problems, Nevadans know that the majority party 
either doesn't know or can't admit that Obama economics is killing 
jobs.
  Crippling debt is not the answer. The assistance we provide should 
not put our fiscal house in even worse shape. Members on both sides 
support helping the unemployed, but many Members oppose adding an 
additional $34 billion to our $13 trillion mountain of debt, as this 
legislation does. There is an alternative. Use the unused, failed 
stimulus money to pay for this extension.
  There is a bill at the desk. Pass it, and we can all go home knowing 
that we have done the responsible thing.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Mr. CAMP. I yield the gentleman 1 additional minute.
  Mr. HELLER. Thank you.
  We can go home, having done the responsible thing and knowing that we 
have helped all Americans.
  Most importantly, it's long past time for Congress to finally get 
serious about creating jobs. My constituents want paychecks, not 
unemployment checks. They want startups, not bailouts. And they want 
hand-ups, not handouts.
  Americans are disappointed with a government that has grown so big, 
promised so much, yet has delivered so little.


                Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair will remind all persons in the 
gallery that they are guests of the House and that any manifestation of 
approval or disapproval of the proceedings is a violation of the Rules 
of the House.

[[Page H5325]]

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I now yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis), a member of the Ways and Means 
Committee.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. I thank the chairman for yielding.
  You know, I've been told that if you don't want to do something, any 
excuse is good enough. And every time I hear my colleagues talk about 
paying for this and paying for that, I'm reminded of Frederick 
Douglass, who used to say that he knew one thing, if he didn't know 
anything else. That is that in this world, you may not get everything 
that you pay for, but you certainly will pay for everything that you 
get; and, if you don't pay one way, then you're going to pay another 
way.
  Well, I can tell you that the people who are unemployed have already 
paid because they've already worked. They've already paid into the 
system. And I can wonder how we're going to feel when we go to our 
parades on the Fourth of July, when we're singing patriotic songs--``My 
country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty''--and when we talk about 
all of the freedoms that we have, we've got 1.7 million people who are 
free to be broke, who are free to be unemployed, free to be hungry, 
free to be living in misery, wondering where their next meal is going 
to come from. How do they pay the rent? How do they keep their kids in 
school?
  Well, I can tell you, I can't believe that we would actually do this. 
And so any excuse is good enough if you don't want to do it, but let's 
do the real and the right thing. Let's vote to extend unemployment 
benefits to those who deserve it.
  Mr. CAMP. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LEVIN. Now I am privileged to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman 
from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich).
  Mr. KUCINICH. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  In Cleveland, where I come from, unemployment is devastating our 
community. People are demanding that their government, our government, 
recognize the suffering of families who have lost jobs and can't find 
work. Will Washington tell my constituents and people like them all 
over America: We have money for war but no money for the unemployed? We 
have money for military contractors but no money for the unemployed? We 
have money--billions--for corrupt foreign governments but no money for 
our unemployed in the United States? We have money for tax cuts for the 
wealthiest Americans but no money for the unemployed? Hundreds of 
billions for Wall Street but no money for the unemployed? Instead, the 
out-of-work poor and middle class, they get lectures on balancing the 
budget, lectures on pay-fors.
  But what else are people supposed to do when they don't have budgets 
because they don't have money, when they can't pay for food, shelter, 
clothing? Yes, we need jobs, but people out of work can't find a job, 
and they have to survive. People need unemployment benefits because 
they have to pay for their mortgage, their rent, their utility bills, 
because so many Americans are hanging on by their fingertips.

                              {time}  1350

  Some exhort our constituents, Pull yourself up by your boot straps. 
What if you don't have money to buy boots?
  Mr. CAMP. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  What we've been hearing most of today is really a false choice, that 
we either do this bill unpaid for or do nothing at all. And in a $3 
trillion budget, we can't find the $34 billion to pay for this bill?
  As I said before, I have supported the extension of unemployment 
benefits. I've voted for the extension of unemployment benefits. But 
given the fiscal shape this country is in now, we believe that it's 
important to offer these benefits and also pay for these benefits so 
that we don't help today's unemployed at the expense of tomorrow's 
future job seekers.
  And the effect on the debt, and I could go through the litany. 
Obviously, it didn't start last year. But if you look at what has 
happened since January of 2009, a $410 billion supplemental that 
included 8,500 earmarks, a $1 trillion stimulus, a $1 trillion health 
care bill. We've got hundreds of billions of dollars in unspent 
stimulus that isn't being returned to the taxpayers that could be 
redirected to pay for these unemployment benefits that isn't.
  So what I hear is, We just need to spend. And this is an important 
need, but why not let us offer an amendment to find a way to pay for 
these extended unemployment benefits?
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LEVIN. I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Ohio 
(Mr. Ryan).
  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. I thank the chairman for this opportunity.
  Let me just go on record and say, I cannot believe, in the wealthiest 
country that has ever existed on God's green Earth, that we are having 
a debate about whether or not we should let 1.3 million people-plus, 
over the course of the next few weeks, go without unemployment when 
unemployment's at 10 percent. There's five people looking for every one 
job, and we can't muster up the courage in this body to pass 
unemployment benefits?
  And our friends on the other side said, Well, this is not an 
emergency. So all of those folks, over the 4th of July, get your 
charcoal out, get your grill, go buy your hamburgers and hot dogs and 
lay them on the grill. Relax, put your flip flops on, put your shorts 
on, put the sun block on. There's no emergency here. That's what our 
friends on the other side are trying to tell the 1.3 million people who 
will go without anything.
  And if you think the deficit is bad now, wait till we get another 
wave of foreclosures, another wave of people who aren't paying their 
bills, another wave of bankruptcies.
  And our friends on the other side have consistently said no. We tried 
to get money from BP to pay for the oil spill; they said no. We took on 
the insurance companies; they said no. We took on Wall Street; they 
said no. We took on the banks; they said no. If you took the word 
``no'' out of the dictionary, the Republican Party would be speechless.


                             General Leave

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on H.R. 5618.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, this debate has shown the length the majority 
will go to in order to avoid paying for any government spending, even 
calling the eighth extension of unemployment benefits an emergency. One 
would hope that even the Congress would see this coming after the first 
seven times.
  We could pass this bill with broad bipartisan support if Democrats 
would just agree to pay for the spending. Instead, their refusal to pay 
for these benefits will mean hundreds of thousands of unemployed 
Americans are losing unemployment benefits at a time when the 
unemployment rate is nearly 10 percent, and it shouldn't be this way, 
because this bill is going nowhere.
  The American people know we must pay for the spending, and the Senate 
appears to have heard that message. Just last night the Senate rejected 
this bill, so it has no hope of being signed into law.
  Given the Senate vote, this isn't just an exercise in fiscal 
irresponsibility; it's an exercise in futility.
  The unemployed are facing a personal emergency, and our country's 
facing an emergency that affects us all and future generations. The 
mountain of debt this bill will only add to.
  If we want to help those who are out of work, let's pass something 
that might actually pass the Senate and won't increase the deficit, 
such as the motion to recommit that I'll be offering in a moment.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of the time.
  I'm glad my colleague from Michigan just spoke, and I think, laid it 
out very clearly what's before us. He said, this is the eighth time and 
we call it an emergency.
  This is the hurricane season. I assume that if there are eight 
hurricanes, that, when the damage is done the eighth time, we'll call 
it for what it is, an emergency.
  So the fact that this is the eighth time, first of all, it shows that 
under

[[Page H5326]]

Presidents of both parties we've extended unemployment insurance in an 
unfunded way, as an emergency. But I think what this shows is that, 
indeed, it is an emergency for numerous families.
  Essentially, the minority is looking for cover. This is an emergency 
within statutory PAYGO that passed this Congress, so we are following 
it.
  The Senate rejected it last night, short one vote, only because of 
the death of Senator Byrd, and there were only two Republicans. His 
position may be filled soon as we mourn him, and then this bill can 
pass the Senate. And hopefully there will be more than two Republicans, 
the rest not standing in the way.
  There's been some reference here to job loss. I just want to repeat: 
during the 8 years of the Bush administration, there was a loss of 
673,000 private sector jobs. In the first 5 months of 2010 alone, 
there's been a gain of 495,000 private sector jobs. So, even that 
excuse won't work, nor the notion of the deficit, when those who are 
trying to invoke it helped to create most of it.
  So I simply want to read some stories, because everybody needs to go 
home and face people like this. I start with a gentleman from Warren, 
Michigan:
  ``I am a U.S. Navy veteran and am trying to get things going, but I 
need just a little more help.''
  And, next, a person in touch with us from Grand Rapids: ``I worked 22 
years in automotive, 60 to 70 hours a week, supporting my family, paid 
my taxes and worked in my community. Every single day I send my resume 
out, to no avail.'' And I interrupt this quote. Don't say these are 
people who are not looking for work. That's also an excuse that won't 
work.
  And I continue. He said: ``I've lost my home and one vehicle and my 
sense of the ability to take care of my family.''
  And now a person from Madison Heights, Michigan.

                              {time}  1400

  ``We depend on unemployment to help pay our house payment and our 
bills. Without that check, we would definitely lose our house.''
  And now this person from Fraser, Michigan. And there are people like 
this throughout the country. ``As of June 2,'' and I quote, ``I will no 
longer be collecting unemployment on the emergency extension. I cannot 
stress to you enough how very hopeless this all is for me and millions 
of people. I have worked since I was 13, making my own way, served my 
country in the Vietnam war, raising a family, paying my taxes, and now 
facing total ruin. What is being done to help people like me in my time 
of need?'' The answer on the minority side, with a few exceptions, too 
few, is nothing, a cold shoulder, an excuse.
  The next I quote from a person in Sterling Heights, a woman who wrote 
this: ``My husband is a union electrician, and is about to lose his 
unemployment. He has always worked, and never been laid off for more 
than a few months until now. No matter how hard he tries to find work, 
there is not much work in the building construction in Michigan. This 
extension can't wait much longer.''
  What the minority has been saying, and I hope it won't say today, is 
the answer for the unemployed is you will wait, and you will wait, and 
you will wait. The House will pass this, we will send it to the Senate, 
I hope with some bipartisan support here. It will go to the Senate. And 
as I said before, I hope as their first regular order of business they 
will find the 60 votes. To do that, those in the minority will have to 
rise above politics. For a moment they'll have to put down their 
political banner and remember the plight of not only 1. 7 million, but 
their families, and more to be added, while this institution, without 
bipartisan help, has not responded.
  There is only one answer. No excuses. None holds any water. We are 
holding up the basic, basic elements of life for millions of Americans. 
We can do better. We must do better. We shall do better in just a few 
moments.
  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support restoration of emergency 
Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits for the millions of workers who 
are unable to find work. These benefits should have never been allowed 
to expire at the end of May. It is a disgrace that Republicans 
repeatedly block passage of a UI extension.
  UI benefits are a lifeline to millions of families struggling to make 
ends meet. They can be the difference between having a roof over your 
head and losing your home. Since Republicans blocked legislation to 
extend UI, over 1.7 million long-term jobless people have lost their 
benefits, including over 300,000 in my state of California. These 
individuals want to work. The problem is there are 5 people for every 
new job. What will happen to these workers and their families whose 
benefits have run out? What will happen to the people that call my 
office everyday asking why they are losing benefits? Will Republicans 
offer them more tax cuts for the wealthy or more subsidies for the oil 
industry?
  Congress has a responsibility to help those impacted by the 
recession. The legislation (H.R. 5618) before us today allows us to 
fulfill that responsibility. I urge all my colleagues to side with 
American workers and support this bill.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
offer my strong support for the passage of H.R. 5618, the Restoration 
of Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act. Emergency Unemployment 
Compensation benefits have expired as of June 1st, leaving millions of 
Americans without the financial lifeline they rely upon. Each week that 
Congress fails to pass this extension, another 200,000 Americans lose 
their benefits.
  These are not people freeloading off the government. They had jobs, 
and the years that they worked are reflected in the weeks of benefits 
they receive. They are also required to look for work in order to 
receive benefits. With a 9.9% unemployment rate, job prospects remain 
dismal for the unemployed. With hundreds of applicants for each 
opening, some hiring managers have even gone so far to exclude the 
unemployed from applying within their job advertisements.
  Without this extension hundreds of thousands of Americans will fall 
into poverty. Many more will have to make the excruciating choice 
between basic needs for their family; choices such as going without 
food or medicine in order to pay the rent or mortgage.
  Economists have pointed to the economic value of unemployment 
insurance benefits. These are dollars that are going back into the 
market, raising consumption and creating jobs. If we allow millions of 
Americans to slip into economic peril, it will only serve to hurt the 
economy and stall the recovery.
  This is economically important and ethically important, and I fully 
support the immediate passage of the restoration of Emergency 
Unemployment Compensation benefits.
  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 
5618, the Restoration of Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act.
  H.R. 5618 would extend critical unemployment insurance benefits 
through November 30, 2010 to help Americans who have lost their jobs 
through no fault of their own. Without this bill, by July 3, 2010, 
approximately 1.7 million unemployed workers nationwide will lose their 
unemployment benefits. In my home state of North Carolina, about 7,200 
unemployed workers will lose their unemployment benefits in the same 
time.
  North Carolina has one of the highest unemployment rates in the 
Nation, and some areas of the Second Congressional District have 
unemployment rates close to 15 percent. I have voted several times over 
the past year to extend and improve benefits for folks who are having 
trouble finding new jobs in the current economic downturn. Extending 
unemployment benefits will not only help unemployed North Carolinians, 
but it will also help stimulate the economy and create new jobs. For 
every $1.00 spent on unemployment benefits, $1.63 is returned in 
economic growth.
  I've heard from thousands of North Carolinians about their struggles 
in this economy. One woman from Spring Lake, NC said, ``This is so very 
important! So many families, single moms like myself are just one 
benefit away from being homeless. Please help the people in your 
district, because we are at the end of our rope.'' I am sure that this 
sentiment is shared by folks in districts across the country who just 
want a little support while they continue to look for jobs as our 
economy recovers.
  Mr. Speaker, this is an emergency for thousands of workers and their 
families in North Carolina right now. This is an emergency not of their 
making but the result of eight years of the failed policies of the 
previous administration. I will continue to fight to make sure every 
North Carolinian who is willing to work hard can make the most of his 
or her God-given abilities. Extending this economic lifeline is the 
right thing to do for workers, and the right thing to do to keep our 
economy on track for recovery. I urge my colleagues to join me in 
strong support of our hardworking Americans.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Restoration of 
Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act which would extend emergency 
unemployment compensation

[[Page H5327]]

and other benefits through November 30, 2010. Our government has an 
obligation to alleviate the suffering of millions of unemployed during 
the worst recession since the Great Depression.
  Today, unemployment is at alarmingly high levels where in my home 
State of Michigan it is over 13 percent. The Federal Government has 
never allowed unemployment benefits to expire when the national 
unemployment rate was above 7.2 percent. However, Republicans in the 
Senate have blocked numerous attempts to extend the benefits and even 
if today's measure passes, the Senate will adjourn, causing thousands 
more to lose benefits. Furthermore, Republicans have stopped many other 
job creating bills citing budget concerns, even though they have 
unquestioned support for indefinite war spending in Iraq and 
Afghanistan, which recently surpassed the one trillion dollar mark and 
championed tax breaks for the rich while the unemployed suffer. It 
appears the Republicans are willing to give a helping hand to every 
group except the American worker.
  Mr. Speaker, the job market is in tatters and it has been found that 
for every job opening there are five applicants. We simply can no 
longer wait on extending these vital benefits. I urge my colleagues to 
support today's legislation.
  Mr. LEVIN. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. All time for debate has expired.
  Pursuant to House Resolution 1495, the previous question is ordered 
on the bill, as amended.
  The question is on the engrossment and third reading of the bill.
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, and was 
read the third time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 1(c) of rule XIX, further 
consideration of H.R. 5618 is postponed.

                          ____________________