[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 15, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H237-H238]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      RENEW UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Linda T. Sanchez) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to

[[Page H238]]

lend a voice to the 1.5 million workers who have lost their Federal 
unemployment benefits.
  Imagine a choice before you where you had to either put food on the 
table or have a roof over your head. This is the decision that millions 
of workers, including 53,000 people in L.A. County alone, will face, 
all because my colleagues on the other side of the aisle refused to 
extend unemployment insurance benefits.
  Last week, I had an opportunity to talk personally with constituents 
who are affected by the loss of these benefits. Their message for me to 
send to my colleagues was clear:

       We are not lazy or unmotivated. We want to work. But as we 
     continue to navigate a tough labor market, we need these 
     benefits in order to provide for our families and to pay for 
     the gas and phone bills that help us talk to potential 
     employers and get ourselves to interviews.

  Mr. Speaker, unemployment benefits are not handouts. These are 
benefits workers have earned. They paid into the system to help them 
precisely during times like this.
  It is time to stop disrespecting these people who are continuing to 
try to find work by mischaracterizing them as lazy or somehow fat and 
happy living on unemployment benefits.
  One of my constituents, in particular, Anthony, wanted me to make 
crystal clear the fact that he resents those who say that is he not 
trying hard enough to find a job. He has a bachelor's degree in finance 
from Cal State Long Beach and has worked as an accountant in the 
private sector.
  In his 47 years on Earth, he has never once been unemployed until 
now, and he has been trying everything he can to find work, but hasn't 
found anything yet.
  He told me that every morning he gets up and goes to a work center to 
search the online listings, and that the 20 computers at this 
particular work center are always full, and every single person at one 
of those computers is actively looking for work.
  Mr. Speaker, unemployment insurance benefits are a lifeline to 
families who are struggling. Please don't cut off this critical 
lifeline. Give unemployment insurance the vote that it deserves.

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