[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 17]
[House]
[Page 22512]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   EXTEND UNEMPLOYMENT TO ALL REGIONS

  (Mr. PERRIELLO asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. PERRIELLO. Mr. Speaker, the House acted in a bipartisan way this 
week to address the issue of extending unemployment benefits. It was an 
important act in this very difficult economic time to reach out to 
those who through no fault of their own have lost the lifeline to be 
able to support their own families.
  However, with the way that this was done, it was looking at 
unemployment levels State by State. That meant that even areas of 
tremendous economic distress in certain States did not benefit from 
this program.
  There are parts in my district in southern Virginia with over 20 
percent unemployment, but this act as written will not apply to them. 
Rural counties with 12 to 18 percent unemployment are not covered.
  While this was an important act of bipartisanship to help those who 
are struggling in this economy, we must do better. We must find a way 
to make sure that unemployment benefit extensions and other relief 
efforts are targeted at the areas of greatest economic distress, even 
if those exist in States that are doing relatively well.
  I hope that the areas around the country that are like southern 
Virginia, small manufacturing towns and farming communities, are not 
left out of these future efforts. I will continue to fight to make sure 
all those that are struggling get relief.

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