[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 12, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S924-S925]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

  Mr. REED. Madam President, before I leave the floor, I wish to turn 
to another key issue that requires urgent action; that is, the renewal 
of unemployment benefits for millions of people. It has now been 46 
days since unemployment insurance expired for many job seekers. Today 
their ranks have swollen to about 1.8 million Americans, including 
20,000 veterans who have lost their emergency unemployment insurance 
benefits.
  Getting Americans back to work and accelerating job growth should be 
Congress's top priority--our No. 1 job. We all understand the answer to 
this is having a situation where there are not three applicants for 
each job, but there is a good job for each applicant, and we have more 
to do.
  In the meantime we have to address the crisis for these families who 
have worked hard all of their lives. They only qualify for unemployment 
insurance if they lost a job through no fault of their own and are 
looking for work. But in that search, it is difficult. And it is 
certainly difficult to get by, pay the rent, put gas in the car, keep a 
cell phone operating, to take a call from a potential employer when we 
cut off the modest benefits of roughly $350 a week.

  Doing this has historically been a bipartisan endeavor. We have all 
recognized in our communities, regardless of where they are located in 
this country, people who have worked hard, who are struggling and need 
assistance to make the transition from unemployment back to 
reemployment. I am particularly troubled today by the way some people 
are commenting about the unemployed, suggesting they don't have the 
backbone, the character to work; that this is a great deal for them, 
getting $300 a week. When, in fact, one of the obvious points, to me, 
at least, of this crisis of unemployment is it is not just young, 
entry-level workers; too often, it is middle-aged individuals who have 
done extremely well in their lives and now, for the first time, are 
coming into unemployment situations because of technology, because of 
changes in the workforce. They are good people, and they deserve our 
support. But, instead, they are being mischaracterized, dismissed, and 
ignored--perhaps the most dangerous aspect of this attitude.
  We were only one Republican vote short of breaking a filibuster that 
would allow us, at least temporarily, to help out these people. I thank 
all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who have worked very 
conscientiously, consistently, and thoughtfully on this critical 
matter. If one more of our colleagues can recognize the need to do 
this, then we can do it, and we should do it.
  We are, I believe, on the verge of addressing the issue of military 
COLA reductions. That is something important we have to do, but let me 
point out, that does not go into effect until December 2015. There is 
no veteran who has lost his or her COLA yet, but there are 1.8 million 
Americans, and growing, who have already lost their extended 
unemployment insurance benefits. So the immediacy of this problem is 
compelling, and we have to deal with it.
  We have never turned our back when long-term unemployment was so 
significant. We have always stood up and said, we will help you. We 
have also been willing to make changes to the program. In fact, in 
2012, I was part of a conference committee that made significant 
reforms in the unemployment system. One reform was to cut back the 
weeks from 99 to 73. We provided to States the ability to have 
innovative programs in terms of putting people in jobs, in terms of 
making sure a job search was being thoroughly conducted by recipients. 
These reforms have been made. What we have asked for is a short 
extension of the program, and I think that is what we should be asking 
for at this juncture. But as we progress and as we get close to the 
point where

[[Page S925]]

the 3 months has expired, I think we have to think more about what are 
we going to do in the long run, because we are still going to have 
millions of people who do not have work.
  We have, I think--and it has been demonstrated by these folks--
Members on both sides who want to get this done. We need one more vote 
to procedurally move forward. I hope we can get that vote.
  With that, I yield back the remainder of our time. I believe, under 
the prevailing UC, that we will now go into executive session.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Alabama.
  Mr. SESSIONS. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to speak in 
morning business for 7 minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. SESSIONS. Thank you. I will yield the floor if some people wish 
to speak in executive session on the nominations.

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