OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Extending Emergency Unemployment Benefits

By: Al Green
By: Al Green
Date: June 29, 2010
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Unemployed and Low-Income Entitlements and the Safety Net

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, we must extend the emergency unemployment benefits. Why? Because the program is structured to assist those who are looking for work.

If you are not looking for work, you don't get the extension of benefits. Why? Because 1.7 million people will lose their emergency benefits in 4 days if we do not act now.

Over 100,000 will lose their benefits in the State of Texas in 4 days if we do not act now. Why? Because, for every dollar that we spend on unemployment benefits--emergency benefits, I might add--we turn over $1.63 in economic activity.

Finally, we must do it because, but for the grace of God, there go I and because Dr. King was right. Life is an inescapable network of mutuality, tied to a single garment of destiny. What impacts one directly impacts all indirectly. It has an impact on all of us. We benefit when we spend the money.


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