Extension Of Unemployment Benefits
Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my disappointment in the Majority's failure to provide real relief to unemployed Americans. During this economic downturn, millions of Americans have faced difficult times as they lost their jobs, and then…
Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my disappointment in the Majority's failure to provide real relief to unemployed Americans.
During this economic downturn, millions of Americans have faced difficult times as they lost their jobs, and then dealt with the harsh reality that their unemployment benefits would run out before they could find employment. Recent estimates find that 35,000 workers in the New York City area lost their benefits on December 28, 2002. That is not acceptable.
The 107th Congress adjourned before passing an unemployment package. While this legislation will help some, it does not provide an extension to the nearly one million workers who have already exhausted their benefits.
I have heard from my constituents who have been looking for work for months and find that there just are not jobs out there right now. And they cannot believe that their elected officials, the representatives who are supposed to fight for their interests, turned their backs on them when they needed help the most. It's time that we stop putting the interests of the wealthy ahead of the needs of America's workers who shoulder the burden when the economy is bad.
I wholeheartedly support legislation introduced by Congressman Rangel which would
guarantee all jobless workers at least 26 weeks of extended unemployment benefits. We must provide this necessary relief to America's unemployed.
While I will vote for this legislation, it's time for the Majority to make unemployment relief a priority and to give us the opportunity to vote for meaningful legislation that will make a difference in the lives of workers.