[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 19]
[Senate]
[Pages 25635-25636]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    EXTENDING UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, it has been 18 days since the Senate 
Democrats tried to pass a strong unemployment insurance extension only 
to see the bill blocked by the other side of the aisle. Since that 
time, over 125,000 Americans trying to find work have lost their 
unemployment benefits; 125,000 families across America now have the 
hardest possible question to answer: How are we going to keep food on 
the table? How are we going to keep a roof over the heads of myself and 
my family? Unfortunately, we have been unable to move an extension of 
unemployment benefits on the floor of the Senate.
  This is unusual because in times gone by, this was never even 
controversial. Extending unemployment benefits was expected. If the 
economy was in recession and jobs were lost, we stepped up, both 
parties, and said: We can debate a lot of things, but let's understand 
there are a lot of Americans in very difficult circumstances who need a 
helping hand. That is not this time. Unfortunately, at this point in 
time, it has become a politically controversial issue about whether to 
extend unemployment benefits to people.
  I have heard from a lot of people back in Illinois. A week ago in 
Chicago, I met with a room full of unemployed people and talked with 
them about their expenses first hand--people who have been out of work 
for long periods of time and are desperate to find a job. These people 
were all in training to improve their skills to get a better chance at 
employment. They told me about losing their health insurance. They 
worry about losing their homes. They are depleting their savings. They 
don't know which way to turn.
  That is the reality. Any image anyone has of people on unemployment 
enjoying it and lazily waiting for the next check I think would be 
completely obviated by a visit with people who are unemployed.
  I hope all my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will sit down 
with these families who are asking us for unemployment benefits.
  A 50-year-old woman in Machesney Park wrote me recently:


[[Page 25636]]

       I have worked steadily since I was 16. I am now 51 and have 
     only had to collect unemployment once in those 35 years. I 
     received my last unemployment check the first week in 
     September [of this year]. I [look for] work every day. If I 
     could just find a part-time job at 25 to 35 hours a week, I 
     could get by. . . .
       [Our families] have exhausted our retirement accounts just 
     to keep [paying the bills]. Now we fear not being able to 
     survive when retirement comes. So I do want to thank you and 
     wish to stress the urgency in getting this bill passed. Do 
     not give up on us hard-working American citizens.

  A wife and mother in Fox River Grove wrote me and said:

       I am a 59-year-old educated woman who lost my job in April 
     2008. I was just informed that my unemployment benefits will 
     run out in [30 days]. I have been actively looking all this 
     time but there is little out there for me.
       I can't believe that people are going to be turned away for 
     benefits when there is nothing out there for us to do. . . .
       After years of working, putting two kids through college 
     (MBA and [another master's degree]), we thought at last we 
     could save for our retirement. I guess now keeping our house 
     should be [a higher priority]. My 94-year-old mother has 
     moved in with us because she lost her house so we are trying 
     to [help her get along].
       Please convince Congress to extend unemployment [benefits] 
     until we can see a light at the end of the unemployment 
     tunnel.

  A young lady from Chicago wrote me:

       I have been out of work since January 2009. I am currently 
     collecting unemployment benefits, but am nearing the end [of 
     eligibility for benefits].
       I don't have crazy outstanding bills, actually, I have no 
     debt other than a $300 credit card that has fallen into 
     arrears. I'm just trying to get by living in the city of 
     Chicago. I have $12.58 in my checking account and $5.81 in my 
     savings account.
       I don't have a mortgage. I don't eat out. I don't even have 
     cable. No kids in school. No health club membership. I also 
     don't have insurance. I know you're working on that for us 
     now, and I appreciate that. But this unemployment bill needs 
     to pass quickly because as I understand it, 20,000 Illinois 
     residents will lose their benefits in the next few months and 
     I am one of [them].
       I spend 10 [or more] hours a day dividing my time between 
     job searching and trying to drum up business for a small 
     business I am trying to get started. . . .
       Senator, please, please, please pass this bill. If not for 
     me whose credit has been ruined by nonpayment of a $300 bill, 
     then for the 20,000 other Illinois residents who have much 
     larger bills, mortgages and families counting on them.

  How are we supposed to justify to the people we represent across 
America that we cannot take up and pass this extension of unemployment 
benefits? These unemployment benefits are paid from a fund that is 
collected from workers and their employers during the course of their 
work career. We put a little bit of money away each week on the chance 
that someone facing unemployment will need that money to get by.
  These people are asking for an extension of their benefits from a 
fund into which they paid. It is deeply troubling to me that we can't 
help these people and thousands like them.
  The Senator from Kentucky, Mr. McConnell, the Republican leader, came 
earlier and said the reason we can't do this is because we need to 
consider a few amendments to it.
  Last week, the No. 2 man in the Republican leadership, Senator Jon 
Kyl of Arizona, said his side, the Republican side, wanted amendments 
to the unemployment compensation bill on ``stuff that pertains to the 
subject--how do you pay for it, for example.''
  I will tell you that the list of amendments given to us to add to the 
unemployment bill go far beyond what the Senator from Arizona said. For 
example, there is a group of Senators over there who want to get into a 
debate about immigration. This is an important issue, don't get me 
wrong, and it is one we should take up and will take up, probably not 
this year but the beginning of next year. But to hold up unemployment 
benefits for these hard-working Americans whose citizenship has never 
been questioned so we can debate immigration? I don't believe that 
meets the test Senator Kyl said we had to meet: that he would want 
amendments that pertain ``to the subject--how you pay for it, for 
example.''
  Secondly, the Senator from Louisiana wants to offer an amendment 
about an organization called ACORN. You remember ACORN. Those are the 
folks who were caught on the videotapes counseling people on conduct 
that if it is not criminal should be criminal. Those employees of ACORN 
have been dismissed. I am sure they are being investigated, and they 
should be. What we saw on those tapes is not only troubling but could 
be actionable. I am not saying hold back at all with regard to ACORN.
  In response to that, I offered an amendment calling for the GAO to do 
an investigation of all the Federal expenditures related to this 
agency. I want to find out if there is any other wrongdoing, whether we 
should cancel work that is being done, investigate payments that are 
being made. I want to get to the bottom of this. The House went further 
to cut off ACORN from any business with the Federal Government. They 
voted for that.
  So to say this organization has been ignored is wrong. There is a lot 
that has been said and done about ACORN. The Obama administration cut 
them off on work on the census, and they are investigating their work 
in a lot of other areas. But to hold up this bill on unemployment 
benefits so we can again debate ACORN, how do you explain that to 
people in Louisiana and Illinois, folks who have lost their 
unemployment benefits? You have to say: Just hang on. We sure would 
like to send a check to take care of your family, but first we have to 
revisit the ACORN debate and go through all this all over again at some 
new level.
  That, to me, is irresponsible. It is wrong for us to deny basic 
benefits that people need when they are out of work so that people can 
come to the floor of the Senate and argue about issues that have 
nothing to do with these poor unemployed people and the struggles they 
are going through.
  There are literally six unemployed people in America for every open 
job. It is no wonder they are having a hard time finding employment. It 
is starting to turn around ever so slightly, and I hope it turns around 
quickly. That is the reality.
  In the meantime, could we not come to agreement, Democrats and 
Republicans, that this safety net is critically important; that the 
people affected by it couldn't care less what our party labels are, 
couldn't care less about another debate about ACORN? All they want to 
do is get by another day, week, or month in the hope they can find that 
job.
  Time and again the Democratic leader has offered our Republican 
friends an alternative coming forward: doing this bill, passing it 
quickly, and sending it out so we can extend up to 20 weeks coverage of 
unemployment benefits in some of the States hit hardest by 
unemployment. But time and again the Republicans on the other side of 
the aisle have said no, as they have on so many other issues.
  They don't have an alternative to paying unemployment benefits. They 
know we have to do it. We should do it. But they want to debate other 
issues. They don't have an alternative to health care reform. They 
don't like what we are proposing, but they don't have an alternative. 
They basically want to stay with the current system in America, which 
is not good for us in the long run.
  What we need is more positive efforts toward cooperation, and I hope 
we will achieve it. For the people and families in Illinois, they have 
my assurance that I will continue to work to extend unemployment 
benefits so more and more Americans, not only in my State but across 
the Nation, will have the peace of mind knowing they can get through 
this tough recession.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. CORNYN. I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum 
call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  Mr. CORNYN. I ask unanimous consent to speak for up to 15 minutes.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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