[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 1070]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     THE CLOCK IS TICKING ON THE PAYROLL TAX CUT AND EXTENSION OF 
                         UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

  (Ms. BASS of California asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Ms. BASS of California. Mr. Speaker, the clock is ticking on 
extending the payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits for millions of 
Americans. In just three short weeks, people barely surviving on 
unemployment benefits will be out on the streets. In three short weeks, 
160 million people who get paychecks would have to pay the government 
nearly $1,000 more.
  Unfortunately, House Republican leadership insists on unrelated 
ideological legislation freezing the pay of middle class public 
servants for a third time in 3 years, slashing unemployment benefits by 
40 weeks, and drug testing Americans who have lost their jobs through 
no fault of their own.
  I don't think my Republican colleagues understand the plight of 
Americans who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. So 
I'm asking my constituents and people from around the country to go to 
my Web site, karenbass.house.gov, and send in stories about their 
efforts to look for work. I will share these stories with my Republican 
colleagues to help them understand in hopes they will do the right 
thing.

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