David Alan Curson

Mr. Speaker, more than 12 million Americans are still searching for work. The fiscal cliff and deficit reduction are important for our Nation's economic health in the long term, but we need to remember in the short term, we need job creation to get the economy moving again. We can do that by investing in our Nation's infrastructure.

By investing in our infrastructure, we put people to work and create revenue immediately. More people working lessens the strain on unemployment and family assistance programs and generates more employed persons paying taxes. Putting people back to work is a deficit- reduction plan.

The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that $1 billion in highway investments can create nearly 28,000 well-paying construction jobs. Because infrastructure investment is not only a huge boost to the economy, it's critically needed. Historically, the issue has had bipartisan support because it's so critically important. If you need to get to the other side of a bridge, it doesn't matter if you're a Republican or a Democrat, you need to get to the other side.

Now is the time for America to invest in maintaining and upgrading our infrastructure. Let's put America back to work.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all

Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to insert material into the Record on the subject of Representative Emanuel Cleaver's retirement as chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.

I, too, offer my congratulations to Representative Cleaver for his service to all Americans as the CBC chair.

Millions of Americans are out of work through no fault of their own. Millions of Americans are relying on federally funded benefits to make ends meet as our Nation's struggling economy starts to recover. These unemployment benefits for the long-term unemployed will immediately and completely stop on December 29, 2012, unless we in Congress act. There is no phaseout. Every individual receiving those benefits now will be cut off cold.

The Department of Labor estimates that over 2 million Americans will lose their emergency benefits at the end of the year, including over 92,000 people in my home State of Michigan. Cutting off benefits for the long-term unemployed will have a devastating impact on middle class families who are struggling to stay out of poverty. They are critically important for necessities of life, rent, groceries, and utilities. Cutting off unemployment benefits will also hurt America's economic recovery, as economists predict that allowing the UC benefits to expire at the end of this year will reduce economic growth next year by $58 billion.

Emergency unemployment benefits provide a particularly valuable economic contribution to the economy because financially stressed unemployed workers typically spend the benefits they receive quickly. Cutting off these benefits will hurt small businesses and add to the downward spiral of a failing economy. The Census Bureau reports that unemployment benefits, both State and Federal, reduced the number of Americans living in poverty last year by 2.3 million, including over 600,000 children. The Congressional Research Service estimates that in 2011, unemployment benefits reduced the poverty rate for families receiving them by 40 percent.

Cutting off unemployment benefits for too many Americans will only substantially increase hardship and poverty in our Nation. Now is not the time to deprive these Americans of a critical lifeline. Federally funded unemployment benefits should be extended by this Congress.

The best cure for unemployment is to create jobs. We can do this by investing in rebuilding our Nation's infrastructure, creating real jobs and real revenue by people working for a living.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize Ms. Carolyn Coleman, executive secretary to the secretary treasurer of the International Union, UAW, on her retirement.

As a Member of Congress, it is both my privilege and honor to recognize Ms. Coleman for her many years of service and her contributions which have enriched and strengthened our communities. Ms. Coleman brings a lifetime of experience to her current position with the United Auto Workers, a career which began in July of 1967 in the UAW's women's department. Carolyn's skill and knowledge led her to be selected to premiere assignments. She directly assisted many great union leaders in their important work, including UAW Vice Presidents Dick Shoemaker and Cal Rapson, as well as UAW President Owen Bieber, and UAW Secretary Treasurer Dennis Williams, her current supervisor.

Her work is impeccable, her advice valued, and her friendship treasured. Carolyn is one of the many unsung heroes of the labor movement. She was never the one who gained headlines for making fiery speeches that inspired the masses or received credit for labor agreements that have lifted so many working families into the prosperous middle class. But behind the scenes, she contributed to both. For 45 years, Carolyn Coleman reported to work for the United Auto Workers with one simple goal in mind: to do her very best work so that working people will have a better life.

Ms. Coleman believes in her community and has shown a commitment which has exceeded the years of her tenure with the UAW. A longtime member of Hartford Memorial, she has long been actively volunteering in numerous ministries of her church. As well as being a member of the Red Hat Club, she has volunteered her time in a broad array of capacities and community activities.

In addition to her service to the community, Ms. Coleman is the proud mother of two daughters and a son: Lisa, Tonya, and Jimmie. She is also a proud grandmother to six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

I ask that my colleagues join me today to honor Ms. Carolyn Coleman for her dedicated service to working men and women. I join with many others who have been blessed to have worked beside her and have benefited from her labors to wish her many more years of health, happiness, and productive service to our community.