Providing for Consideration of Senate Amendment to H.J. Res. 59, Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014; Providing for Consideration of Motions to Suspend the Rules; Providing for Proceedings during the Period from December 14, 2013, through January 6, 2014; and for Other Purposes

Floor Speech

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Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend from New York for yielding.

I don't see how my colleagues can go home for Christmas leaving their constituents who are unemployed with no Christmas at all. I understand this bill to be important for its elimination of some sequestration. That is a small favor considering that sequestration may be the only bill nobody wanted that nevertheless prevailed. But the callous treatment of the unemployed is unforgiveable, especially at this season. I am really outraged by the notion of some of my colleagues about the incentive to remain on unemployment insurance, when the benefits per week have gone down one-third across the States.

We are exposing those who have worked and paid into unemployment insurance to more hard times, but we are also exposing our economy, itself, because the loss of unemployment insurance means another loss of 300,000 jobs.

This bill is counterproductive. It is counterintuitive. It spoils an otherwise acceptable bill. It makes a mockery of Christmas.

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