[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 176 (Thursday, December 12, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H7699]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE EXTENSION

  (Mr. PAYNE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of over 90,000 
unemployed New Jerseyans at the risk of losing their unemployment 
benefits on December 28 if Congress fails to act before the end of the 
year.
  Despite what my colleagues on the other side think, unemployment 
insurance helps during hard times, and people forget that we are still 
recovering from the worst recession since the Great Depression.
  Patrick, a carpenter from Rahway, New Jersey, struggles to find 
employment through no fault of his own. His family will not be able to 
afford their mortgage if this critical lifeline is cut.
  Malene from Maplewood, New Jersey, is an educated professional, but 
has been unable to find work since February. In her letter, she wrote:

       When do my elected officials start caring for me and the 
     millions of other people struggling to survive--not living, 
     but scraping by?

  Vote to extend the unemployment benefits which equate to hope for 
many families in the new year. I urge the House leadership to address 
this looming expiration of the unemployment benefits for millions of 
Americans before leaving this year.

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