[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 5 (Thursday, January 9, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H84]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
(Mr. COSTA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, as a representative of the San Joaquin Valley
of California, I know our economic recovery has been uneven at best.
Unemployment remains unacceptably high in areas like my district.
Those on unemployment are not socking taxpayer dollars away for a
rainy day. Today already is their rainy day. Their benefits go back
into our economy immediately for basic needs, like food and rent, while
they look for work.
After 27 years at an insurance company, Jacqueline of Atwater,
California, was let go last May. Since then the 53-year-old has
struggled to find work.
Another constituent of mine, Luis in Fresno, lost his unemployment
insurance at the end of December. This father wrote:
If I don't find a job in the next couple of weeks, then I
will not be able to pay my rent or pay for food for my
family.
With all the talk about restoring certainty to our economy, we cannot
forget that American families drive this economy.
Now is not the time to take money out of their pockets as they are
also struggling to recover. Let's restore unemployment with a
bipartisan effort.
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