[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 8, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H590]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

  (Ms. SCHAKOWSKY asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Unless Congress acts, emergency unemployment benefits 
will run out on February 23 for 3 million Americans. We simply can't 
let that happen.
  Congress has never before allowed benefits to expire when 
unemployment was higher than 7.2 percent. And with more than three 
applicants for every job opening, we must not turn our backs on 
Americans who want to work, are trying to work, but simply can't find a 
job.
  We shouldn't demean them either by asking them to jump through 
hurdles to get the unemployment insurance benefits that they've already 
paid for, such as getting drug tested or going back to high school 
after decades in the workforce.
  Our economy is improving, thanks to the policies of this 
administration, but we have more to do. We need to extend unemployment 
benefits. It's good for American families, and it's good for America. 
Every dollar spent on UI benefits increases economic activity by $2. 
That increases gross domestic product and creates jobs and creates a 
stronger economy that works for everyone.
  History has taught us and economists warn us about the dangers of 
prematurely pulling the plug on policies that work. Let's extend 
unemployment insurance benefits for a full year.

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