[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 38 (Thursday, March 6, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H2245]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1515
                         VETERANS UNEMPLOYMENT

  (Ms. DUCKWORTH asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. DUCKWORTH. Mr. Speaker, the unemployment rate for veterans is 
more than 10 percent. 900,000 veterans receive food stamps each month. 
Nearly $104 million in food stamps were redeemed at military 
commissaries in fiscal year 2013, yet the majority has repeatedly 
failed to bring the extension of unemployment insurance to a vote.
  Since it expired last year, more than 2 million individuals, 
including 200,000 veterans, have been cut off from this vital lifeline.
  I know firsthand how important this program is for hardworking 
veterans. After I completed flight school and returned home to 
Illinois, I relied on unemployment insurance to help me transition back 
to civilian life.
  The unemployment rate for veterans recently separated from the 
military is now sitting at 10 percent. 246,000 veterans who served 
since 9/11 are now out of work.
  For those coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan, this transition has 
been especially challenging. They have enough to worry about without 
suffering from cuts to unemployment insurance.
  Taking an up-or-down vote on extending unemployment insurance is the 
right thing to do, Mr. Speaker. We need to renew this for those 
searching for jobs and those who are getting back on their feet.
  Our veterans and unemployed have not given up on finding work, and we 
cannot give up on them.

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