[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 10 (Thursday, January 16, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H1230]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           EMERGENCY UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION EXTENSION ACT

  (Mr. TONKO asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, I and a number of our colleagues 
in the House asked for unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 3824, the 
Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act, for a simple up or 
down vote. Time and time again, we were denied that simple vote.
  Mr. Speaker, poll after poll shows us that Independents, Republicans, 
and Democrats support at least a 3-month extension of unemployment 
insurance. We continue to be in dereliction of our duty every day we 
let this critical lifeline to our long-term jobless friends and 
neighbors expire.
  Last week, I met with two New Yorkers from my district who paid into 
this program for years, and they are shocked, as am I, Mr. Speaker, 
that elected officials in Washington continue to sit idly by without 
supporting them.
  A simple up or down vote, that is all we are asking for, Mr. Speaker. 
Let's pass this critical lifeline; let's do what is fair and just; and 
let's get back to the business of growing jobs and our economy.

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