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Unemployment Insurance Extension

Floor Speech

Date: Jan. 14, 2014
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Unemployed and Low-Income Entitlements and the Safety Net

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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