[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 16 (Wednesday, February 1, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H229]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     RESTORE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

  (Ms. EDWARDS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. EDWARDS. Madam Speaker, with another deadline approaching, we're 
reminded again of the debacle that was the end of the last session when 
Members on the other side stood in the way of extending tax cuts for 
160 million Americans and unemployment benefits for millions more. This 
is really unacceptable.
  Madam Speaker, I want to share with you the sentiments of Mary Hill 
of Maryland. I received a letter from her this week. She's a single 
mother. She's a construction worker, and she's a member of Laborers' 
Local 657. She writes to me that she's been out of work for most of the 
last 3 years. In her first year here, she writes:
  I went through all my savings as well as my children's savings. I 
went from visions of having my skills, education, vocation, 
certifications, and ethics embraced to receiving food stamps, a medical 
card, and watching my unemployment run out. I want to work. I need to 
work. I work every day as a volunteer organizer. My passion is for 
myself and others to achieve and live the American Dream. Hard work 
should be rewarded, and it is rewarding. Nevertheless, my rent is due. 
I owe credit cards and a student loan. I thought I would own a house by 
now.
  Madam Speaker, we have to restore unemployment benefits for millions 
of Americans like Mary Hill.

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