[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 42 (Thursday, March 13, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H2371]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
(Ms. FUDGE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute.)
Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, as our economy continues to experience high
levels of unemployment and a flat labor participation rate, now is not
the time to further decimate vital assistance to those who have lost
their jobs through no fault of their own. I will not abandon 2 million
Americans, including 200,000 veterans. We must give them a hand up.
Yesterday, I signed a discharge petition to force action on extending
unemployment insurance benefits, a move supported by more than three-
fourths of the American people.
Additionally, nationally, there are three unemployed people for each
job created. For the long-term unemployed, there is just a 12 percent
chance of finding a new job in any given month.
Congress must extend unemployment benefits to help keep American
families out of poverty as they seek jobs. Each week we fail to act,
another 72,000 people lose their benefits. We must act now.
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