[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 192 (Wednesday, December 14, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2260]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          MIDDLE CLASS TAX RELIEF AND JOB CREATION ACT OF 2011

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                               speech of

                            HON. GENE GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 13, 2011

  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, during this Season of Giving, 
when our nation should be reflecting on the need of friends and 
neighbors who are out of work and struggling to provide for their loved 
ones, this chamber will vote today to cut unemployment benefits for one 
million of our fellow Americans.
  The House Majority's bill, H.R. 3630, would eliminate several tiers 
of benefits, created under the Emergency Unemployment Compensation 
program, which has provided up to 99 weeks of support for those who 
lost their jobs through no fault of their own.
  If this legislation becomes law, the maximum potential unemployment 
benefit will fall to 59 weeks.
  This legislation would also allow states, many of which are 
struggling to balance their budgets, to reduce the average weekly 
amount available to beneficiaries.
  I am strongly opposed to any reduction in emergency unemployment 
insurance.
  This Congress cannot and must not adjourn for the holidays and go 
home to tell our unemployed neighbors that the richest country on earth 
cannot find a place in their heart to help them in their time of need.
  Mr. Speaker, unfortunately I am not able to support H.R. 3630 even 
though I am a strong supporter of moving the Keystone XL Project along 
and would support the language included in this bill if considered 
separately.
  The Keystone XL project makes both energy and economic sense for our 
country, and I hope that the Administration could find a way to allow 
for construction to commence in some of the states while simultaneously 
revisiting the route in Nebraska.
  I urge my colleagues to stand in support of the millions of our 
fellow Americans struggling to find work and to oppose this 
legislation.

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