[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 193 (Thursday, December 15, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H8983]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            REPUBLICAN EFFORTS TO CUT UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE

  (Mr. PETERS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to oppose Republican efforts to 
slash unemployment benefits.
  Earlier this week, House Republicans passed legislation that would 
cut 40 weeks of unemployment benefits and impose new hurdles for 
Americans relying on this critical lifeline. With five job seekers in 
the United States for every available job, the average time it takes an 
unemployed worker to find a new job is 10 months. Instead of passing 
the American Jobs Act and getting our Nation's long-term unemployed 
back to work, Republicans are cutting benefits which millions of 
Americans rely on for groceries, utilities, and rent.
  The Republican plan would hurt workers who are having difficulty in 
finding new jobs and would pull billions of dollars out of our still-
recovering economy. Poverty is at its highest level since 1993; but 
unemployment benefits kept over 3 million Americans, including 1 
million children, out of poverty in 2010; and now Republicans are 
fighting to gut this necessary lifeline.
  During this holiday season, when millions of Americans are worried 
about being able to pay their rent, I urge my colleagues to oppose 
slashing unemployment benefits.

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