[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 153 (Monday, November 29, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1999]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          EMERGENCY UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION CONTINUATION ACT

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                               speech of

                             HON. DAVE CAMP

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 18, 2010

  Mr. CAMP. Madam Speaker, on November 18, 2010, U.S. Department of 
Labor Secretary Hilda Solis said the fact that the U.S. unemployment 
rate was 9.6 percent in October 2010 (as opposed to 10.1 percent in 
October 2009) ``tells you . . . we are on the right path.''
  The facts show that the U.S. unemployment rate has been 9.5 percent 
or above for 15 consecutive months--the longest period since the Great 
Depression of the 1930s.
  The unemployment rate hasn't fallen since spring--when hundreds of 
thousands of temporary Census jobs were ``created.''
  And Democrats promised us if their 2009 stimulus law passed, the 
unemployment rate would be 7 percent by now, which as the chart below 
reflects didn't happen.
  All of which suggests unemployment at 9.6 percent is not the right 
path for American workers, regardless of what Secretary Solis believes.
  This bill reflects a cynical political maneuver by the Democratic 
leadership. They know the Senate has no plans to pass this unpaid-for 
bill. So all the claims that today's legislation will save Thanksgiving 
are just more empty rhetoric.
  The fact is, this is exactly what happened this summer, when 
Democrats brought a similar unpaid-for extension bill up under 
suspensions. That failed, because enough Republicans and Democrats 
opposed simply adding to the deficit. You would think our Democrat 
colleagues would have learned that lesson, and either brought this up 
for an up or down vote, or actually paid for it. Instead, we get more 
of the same ``our way or the highway'' approach.
  It will not pass, and the other side knows it. We should reject this 
bill and work together to quickly pass a bill to extend federal 
unemployment benefits while responsibly paying for it.

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