[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 187 (Wednesday, December 7, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H8193]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                    UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE EXTENSION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Ohio (Ms. Fudge) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to address the urgent need to extend 
unemployment insurance for struggling Americans. Forty-five percent of 
all unemployed workers--more than 6 million people--have been out of 
work for more than 6 months.
  Karen, from Cleveland, was laid off in March. She was laid off from a 
law firm due to budget constraints. She is 62 years old and unable to 
find a job in this economy. Unemployment insurance is helping her to 
get by with just the basic necessities. It is allowing her to pay for 
expensive but necessary prescriptions. She is actively looking for 
work, but she is afraid that if her unemployment benefits are cut, she 
will lose her house. Karen's State unemployment benefits can run out at 
the end of December.

                              {time}  1020

  If Congress fails to act to renew the Federal unemployment insurance 
program, she'll become just another statistic, one of the millions of 
Americans who identify themselves with the 99 percent. Karen, along 
with 6 million Americans, will be cut off from emergency lifeline 
saving resources unless Congress acts.
  Sandra, of Cleveland Heights, lost her job in April 2011. It's her 
third layoff. She is 59 years old. She never thought she would find 
herself in this position at this age.
  Rather than defaulting on her mortgage, she has used up all of her 
retirement savings. Now she is deeper into debt. When her unemployment 
funds run out, it's likely she will default. And being an older worker, 
it makes it even harder.
  We see this scenario all too often across this Nation, hardworking 
Americans getting laid off, using up their savings, and then losing 
their homes. We've seen foreclosure rates soar, and Americans are 
falling behind on their mortgage payments at a very rapid rate. In my 
district, more than 13 percent of homeowners are 90 or more days behind 
on their mortgage.
  In 2010, unemployment benefits kept 3 million Americans, including 
nearly 1 million children, from falling into poverty. Extending 
unemployment insurance can prevent the loss of over 500,000 jobs, 
according to the Economic Policy Institute--500,000 jobs.
  You know why? Because UI payments go directly into the economy. They 
support local businesses. They help create jobs and reduce the demand 
for public services. If we don't extend unemployment insurance, it 
would be the equivalent of pulling nearly $90 billion out of the 
economy in 2012.
  There's one more story I'd like to tell you. It's from Molly in 
Toledo. I tell Molly's story because it embodies the frustration felt 
by thousands upon thousands of American across this country.
  Molly has battled unemployment since October 2008. She wonders how 
the rich and powerful expect people like her to survive without good-
paying jobs. ``Are we just supposed to die,'' she asks? ``Commit 
suicide? Starve to death while we are homeless and on the streets?''
  Molly says: ``The deck really seems to be stacked against ordinary 
Americans. No one with any real power seems to care, except Warren 
Buffett.''
  ``I'm trying to find a good job,'' she says, ``or any job for that 
matter. We, the unemployed are demonized by the right and discriminated 
against for being out of work. We're too old or overqualified or 
underqualified, or we're the wrong color. What has happened to my 
country?'' she asks.
  These are the stories of everyday Americans who are struggling to get 
by. This is not about Democrats and Republicans. This is about coming 
together to help millions of unemployed Americans get through the worst 
economic recession since the Great Depression. It's about helping our 
economy grow and about creating jobs.
  Americans are frustrated with the decline of the middle class and the 
lack of good-paying jobs. But these honorable citizens haven't given 
up, and neither can we. We must act now. We must extend unemployment 
insurance.

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