[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 46 (Friday, March 10, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H1263]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      GET AMERICANS WORKING AGAIN

  (Mr. MOONEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. MOONEY. Mr. Speaker, going to work is more than just earning a 
paycheck. It is an important part of human dignity. Unfortunately, too 
many Americans are getting paid not to work.
  According to a recent study, Americans can receive more money to stay 
home than they could putting in a hard day's work. According to the 
findings, a family of four in three States can receive more than 
$100,000 in cash and benefits per year without working. A further 14 
States allow a family of four to receive more than $80,000 in cash and 
benefits without working.
  In West Virginia, my home State, two unemployed parents with two 
minor children can make over $73,000 in unemployment benefits and 
healthcare subsidies. Unfortunately, this is more than essential 
workers, like our firefighters or our truck drivers, make in a year.
  Hardworking West Virginians helped build America. From the coal 
industry to the logging industry, our Nation needs Mountaineers to keep 
America moving forward.
  While it is true that the CARES Act provided unemployment benefits 
for Americans in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, the 
pandemic is over. Even President Joe Biden said as much on ``60 
Minutes.''
  Now Congress needs to provide bipartisan solutions to get Americans 
working again.

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