[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 2 (Monday, January 6, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8-S9]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                       Unemployment Compensation

  Mr. HELLER. Madam President, I rise today to discuss an issue that 
has been in the forefront of the minds of many Americans ringing in the 
new year; that is, extending benefits for the unemployed--something 
that is important, of course, for a lot of Americans.
  Before I begin, I wish to thank my colleague, my friend from Rhode 
Island, Senator Jack Reed, for his hard work and effort on this behalf 
as we and our staffs worked together to get this proposal moved forward 
for today's vote.
  I hope that my friends and colleagues in the Senate enjoyed their 
holidays and that everyone returned refreshed and ready to tackle some 
of the tough issues we have here in 2014.
  Unfortunately, while Congress was in recess, approximately 17,000 
Nevadans greeted the new year not with optimistic expectations of a 
fresh start but with the anxiety of how they are going to feed their 
families and perhaps even pay their utility bills. When Congress left 
Washington, DC, in December, a lot of important matters were left 
undone and expired. As a result, millions of Americans were left with 
no idea whether their unemployment benefits were going to be fixed 
retroactively--something that has become, of course, all too common for 
this Congress to do.
  Helping those in need should not be a partisan issue. Providing a 
limited social safety net is one of the responsibilities of the Federal 
Government. Unfortunately, instead of planning ahead and figuring out 
the best way to do that, we are now forced to decide whether to 
reinstate these benefits after they have expired.
  We should provide some relief to the millions of Americans who were 
left hanging when Congress went home in December and temporarily extend 
unemployment benefits for the next 3 months. It is the right thing to 
do. That short period will help these families whose benefits expired 
abruptly while Congress works out a long-term solution that provides 
Americans with some certainty and is fiscally responsible.
  I understand my colleagues' concerns about the cost and their desire 
to pay for this extension. I too want to see our Federal debt brought 
under control. I think my voting record is proof of that concern.
  I too believe Congress should be more focused on passing laws that 
actually help create jobs. Growing our economy should be the primary 
focus and concern of this body. As a Senator of the State that leads 
the Nation in unemployment, believe me, I understand the importance of 
refocusing on jobs. I would rather be down here today discussing 
innovative ways to create jobs instead of the need to extend 
unemployment benefits yet again. But because of this administration and 
even some of the choices of this body, unfortunately, our economy is 
not growing quickly enough and many Americans are still hurting, 
including a lot of Nevadans.
  My State is struggling. I have repeated often on this floor that 
Nevada consistently tops the chart in unemployment, bankruptcies, and 
foreclosures. The statistics are surely revealing. But more startling 
is the obvious increase in impoverished Nevadans whom I meet when I go 
home. I would like to share an example.
  Every Thanksgiving one or two of my children join me in serving 
Thanksgiving dinner to folks in Reno who are in need and cannot cook a 
Thanksgiving meal for themselves. This year my daughter Emmy, who is in 
her freshman year in college, joined me in this experience. Every year 
that dinner sees more and more attendees. Every year the number of 
individuals and families who need help increases. This year the venue 
was absolutely packed. When my daughter and I arrived, the line outside 
the venue was four blocks long. It is such an obvious example of how so 
many Nevadans are unable to provide for their basic needs, and this 
cannot be ignored.
  I know many economists point to a national unemployment rate that is 
improving, but at home we do not feel it. The unemployment rate in 
Nevada has consistently far exceeded the national average. In fact, the 
Silver State has led the Nation for the past 3 years in unemployment. 
The result is, of course, that people in Nevada are really hurting.
  It is difficult to stand here in the Nation's Capital--an area that 
has largely felt little negative impact of the recession--and describe 
just how tough times are for so many of my constituents. At these 
Thanksgiving dinners, I hear about the choices individuals are forced 
to make--whether to buy gas for their car or pay for heat in the frigid 
northern Nevada winters or buy school supplies for their children or 
perhaps save for the future.
  These are hard-working individuals who rely on these benefits. They 
are trying to find jobs. They want to provide for their children. But 
for these benefits to simply vanish without giving families the time to 
plan or figure out alternatives to help them get by is just not right.
  I too understand the concerns about the cost of these benefits. I 
would prefer to see them paid for in a manner that does not burden our 
Nation with more debt. I have previously introduced legislation that 
would do just that, legislation that would extend unemployment benefits 
while still paying for them. At the time I introduced my legislation as 
an alternative to a more costly bill because I think it is important to 
bring down our Nation's debt.
  I am ready to work with my colleagues to introduce similar 
legislation again this year, but in the meantime I propose that we pass 
this short-term extension now. That would allow Congress the 
opportunity to spend the next 3 months debating how to pay for these

[[Page S9]]

benefits in the future or perhaps how much longer they should be 
extended. Those are important questions worthy of more debate. But in 
the meantime, Congress simply must provide some temporary relief for 
those who are unemployed.
  Paying for these benefits would be the best approach. Congress could 
have taken the harder road to figure out the way to do that before 
departing for the holiday break and leaving millions of Americans 
hanging, but it did not. So let's pass this short-term extension and 
focus on a more fiscally responsible solution for the longer term.
  I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The Senator from Oklahoma.