[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 82 (Thursday, May 29, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H4926]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
(Mr. KILDEE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute.)
Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, it has been nearly 2 months since the Senate
acted to extend unemployment compensation to millions of Americans. It
is a bill that was passed in a bipartisan fashion, the way folks back
home want us to do things; a bill that was paid for, as was requested;
a bill that will not increase the deficit one penny; and a bill that
would extend unemployment benefits and help preserve the American way
of life for 2.8 million Americans who are at risk of losing everything
that they have worked for.
And so what the American public asks me--I know what the folks back
home ask--is, Why won't the House act? We know that there is bipartisan
support for this legislation even in this body.
The bill that I introduced, H.R. 4415, right after the Senate acted
with the precise same language, has bipartisan cosponsorship. So the
question is, Why? Why won't Congress act? Is it because this question
is too complex? No. This one is really simple. We have a bill that
would extend unemployment compensation that is paid for, and it would
prevent families from losing their house. Every day that passes that we
don't act, a family loses their home. Every day that passes, a family
loses hope. It is on our watch that we are allowing this to happen.
I call upon Congress to act.
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