[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 111 (Tuesday, July 27, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1441-E1442]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION EXTENSION ACT OF 2010

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 22, 2010

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I strongly, resolutely, and 
steadfastly support this bill to extend critical unemployment benefits 
for our citizens through the end of November. This bill will provide 
vital assistance to over 137,600 Illinoisans, and to the 2.5 million 
Americans, who lost their benefits between June 2nd and July 17th. This 
bill helps address a national emergency resulting from one of the worst 
economic recessions in our country's history.
  Unemployment insurance is not a theoretical concept to these 
citizens. Unemployment is a very real lifeline. It allows mothers and 
fathers to buy food for their children. It allows people to help keep a 
roof over their families' heads. I have received so many tearful calls 
from my constituents who call to beg for my help. They are disheartened 
by their continued unemployment despite active and prolonged efforts to 
find a job. They are embarrassed that they cannot support their 
families, and they are frightened that their children will suffer from 
their inability to feed, clothe, or provide housing. When they learn 
that their government allowed these lifeline benefits to expire and 
failed to reinstate them for almost 8 weeks, they are shocked. They 
worked and paid taxes for years with an understanding that government 
would help them in a time of need. Yet, this assistance was not there.
  I think it is unfortunate that Republicans have delayed this critical 
financial assistance for so long. To add insult to injury, while 
proclaiming that our government could not afford $33 billion to help 
our citizens who are suffering during an economic emergency, the 
Republican leadership confidently asserted the position that we want 
the government to lose over $650 billion for the wealthy. This is 
approximately 20 times the cost of this critical unemployment 
assistance. This is the same leadership that had no difficulty spending 
a trillion dollars for two wars and giving tax breaks to the wealthiest 
of the wealthy.
  The extension of the aid for 99 weeks is an important first step in 
helping our citizens who are struggling to find employment. I promise 
to continue to work with the Democratic leadership to push for ways to 
help those who remain unemployed beyond the 99 weeks. Long-term 
unemployment is an unfortunate reality for Chicago and for my 
constituents.
  Passing this bill today tells our citizens that we are working for 
them. Further, passing this bill today reinforces their confidence in 
their government--confidence that they will help care for them in the 
lean times. For these reasons, I urge my colleagues to vote for its 
passage.

[[Page E1442]]



                          ____________________