[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 1791]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   EXTENSION OF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, January 27, 2003

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my disappointment in the 
Majority's failure to provide real relief to unemployed Americans.
  During this economic downturn, millions of Americans have faced 
difficult times as they lost their jobs, and then dealt with the harsh 
reality that their unemployment benefits would run out before they 
could find employment. Recent estimates find that 35,000 workers in the 
New York City area lost their benefits on December 28, 2002. That is 
not acceptable.
  The 107th Congress adjourned before passing an unemployment package. 
While this legislation will help some, it does not provide an extension 
to the nearly one million workers who have already exhausted their 
benefits.
  I have heard from my constituents who have been looking for work for 
months and find that there just are not jobs out there right now. And 
they cannot believe that their elected officials, the representatives 
who are supposed to fight for their interests, turned their backs on 
them when they needed help the most. It's time that we stop putting the 
interests of the wealthy ahead of the needs of America's workers who 
shoulder the burden when the economy is bad.
  I wholeheartedly support legislation introduced by Congressman Rangel 
which would guarantee all jobless workers at least 26 weeks of extended 
unemployment benefits. We must provide this necessary relief to 
America's unemployed.
  While I will vote for this legislation, it's time for the Majority to 
make unemployment relief a priority and to give us the opportunity to 
vote for meaningful legislation that will make a difference in the 
lives of workers.

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