[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 591]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE EXTENSION

  (Ms. VELAZQUEZ asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, because of the House Republican 
leadership's inaction, 3 days after Christmas, 127,000 New Yorkers were 
cut off from their jobless benefits. Every week in 2014, another 5,100 
working families in New York lose unemployment compensation. These 
families are struggling to make ends meet and put food on the table.
  This inaction not only harms dislocated workers who stop receiving a 
check in the mail, but it also slows economic growth. When families 
have to further cut spending, there is a ripple effect. As families 
spend less on necessities like food and clothing, local businesses take 
a hit. Indeed, it has been estimated that failing to pass an 
unemployment insurance extension will cost our economy 310,000 new 
jobs.
  Mr. Speaker, this could end today. Let's do what is right for working 
families and for the American economy. Let's reinstate unemployment 
insurance, and let's do so now.

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