[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 18]
[Senate]
[Pages 24919-24920]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         UNEMPLOYMENT EXTENSION

  Mrs. SHAHEEN. Mr. President, I rise to speak in support of the 
Unemployment Compensation Extension Act. This bill will extend at least 
14 weeks of unemployment benefits to workers across the country who 
will exhaust their benefits by the end of the year.
  This the second time I have come to the floor to urge those who are 
holding up this critical legislation to stop blocking its passage.
  This week we learned that Wall Street firms are expected to pay out a 
record $140 billion in compensation. While the economy seems to have 
turned around for Wall Street executives, it sure hasn't turned around 
for millions of American workers who still can't find a job.
  If we can bail out the big banks that got us into this financial 
mess, shouldn't this Senate be able to act quickly to help the people 
hit hardest by this recession--unemployed workers?
  Apparently not, because there are Members of this Senate who are 
playing partisan political games and delaying an extension of 
unemployment benefits. This needs to stop.
  Today, more than 5 million workers have been unemployed for 6 months 
or longer. Through no fault of their own, millions of Americans cannot 
find work because there are now more than 6 unemployed workers for each 
job opening. Until the job market improves, we have a responsibility to 
help these workers keep food on the table and pay the mortgage.

[[Page 24920]]

  Not only is this the right thing to do for families, it is the right 
investment to make in our economy. An effective stimulus is timely, 
targeted and temporary, and that's how this extension is designed.
  This extension is temporary. It is targeted at those who have been 
unemployed for more than 59 weeks and have exhausted their benefits. 
And no one can question that it is timely.
  Unemployment compensation is money that gets spent immediately on 
necessities. People who are out of work need this money to help pay 
rent and mortgages, buy food, and pay for gas.
  So when we extend unemployment benefits, we are not just helping 
workers who have lost their jobs, we are helping small businesses 
across the country by boosting demand for their products and services.
  In fact, economists say that dollar-for-dollar, extending 
unemployment benefits is one of the most cost effective actions we can 
take to stimulate the economy.
  Temporary extensions of unemployment benefits are an especially 
effective stimulus when the long-term unemployment rate is high, and, 
unfortunately, that is the situation today. Nationally, the number of 
long-term unemployed--those jobless for 27 weeks or more--rose to 5.4 
million in September. In my home State, New Hampshire, the number of 
long-term unemployed has more than tripled in the past year.
  I do not understand why any Senator would delay an extension of 
unemployment compensation that will help workers and small businesses 
in every single State.
  People are counting on us to act now. American workers who have 
exhausted unemployment benefits cannot wait another week to pay the 
rent or buy groceries.
  I urge my colleagues to stop the games and pass this critical 
extension without further delay.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as in 
morning business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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