[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 14, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H192]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         UNEMPLOYMENT EXTENSION

  (Mr. HORSFORD asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, it is completely insensitive, unjust, and 
flat out wrong that Congress would deny the now more than 1.4 million 
Americans unemployment insurance, including over 18,000 Nevadans.
  Mr. Speaker, this is the week that checks stop coming in the mail. 
For those who maybe never have been unemployed or don't know what it is 
like to struggle, for many Americans this is the week that the pain 
takes hold.
  The hypocrisy from across the aisle is staggering. I don't quote the 
former President often, but on December 14, 2002, in his weekly radio 
address, then-President George W. Bush scolded Congress because ``no 
final bill was sent to me extending unemployment benefits for about 
750,000 Americans whose benefits will expire on December 28.''
  He went on to say:

       These Americans rely on their unemployment benefits to pay 
     for their mortgage or rent, food, and other critical bills. 
     They need our assistance in these difficult times, and we 
     cannot let them down.

  The unemployment rate in December 2002, it was just 6 percent. 
Congress then extended those unemployment benefits, Mr. Speaker, by a 
vote of 416-4. If it was an emergency then, it is an emergency now.
  It is time to do the right thing and extend unemployment insurance 
for the 1.4 million Americans.

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