[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 4 (Wednesday, January 8, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H30]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE

  (Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute.)
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker and House 
Republicans, happy new year. You look great, but we have failed to 
address the issues of the people who are unemployed. I call upon all of 
us today to remember that many people, as we sit here, are facing 
fiscal devastation.
  The social safety net is used to purchase very basic necessities, 
such as food and rent; and many Americans are treading now, just 
staying above the water. There were 1.3 million Americans who were 
without unemployment insurance as of December 28. In another few weeks, 
1.9 million more will join them, and 174,000 of them are from Texas.
  I know that we have not really thought about this seriously. I know 
that so much time was spent in attempting to overturn the Affordable 
Care Act that we forgot that there are people we have failed to provide 
jobs for who are now unemployed and whom we cannot forget.
  This is not just their problem. This is our problem. Please join me 
in making sure that we restore their safety net.

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