Providing for Consideration of Senate Amendment to H.R. 3547, Space Launch Liability Indemnification Extension Act; Providing for Proceedings During the Period From January 17, 2014, Through January 24, 2014; and for Other Purposes

Floor Speech

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Mr. TIERNEY. Madam Speaker, some 1.3 million workers have lost their jobless benefits as of December 28. That number grows by an estimated 72,000 more a week. In my home State of Massachusetts, alone, some 62,915 families have been adversely impacted, and that includes 20,000 veterans.

We can hear the urgency of families who have exhausted every avenue, have exhausted the savings, the generosity of family and friends, even as they look for work. About 4 million people have been cut out of work for 27 weeks or longer. They have about a 12 percent chance of finding a new job in any given month. There are still not enough jobs to go around, almost three unemployed workers per every job opening. That is worse than the ratio at any point during the 2001 recession.

If the fate of individuals doesn't move the Members of this Chamber, perhaps a look at the economy would. For every $1 of unemployment insurance, the economic impact is a positive $1.52. That is money with which to buy essential services and products of our local and small businesses, who greatly need that demand.

Seventeen times over the last decade or so we have extended benefits in a bipartisan manner. Fourteen of those times were bipartisan in nature, and five of those were under the administration of George W. Bush.

The urgency is now; the need is critical. I have introduced, Madam Speaker, the responsible legislation, entitled the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act, H.R. 3824. It has over 140 cosponsors already, even though it has been filed only a matter of days. Speaker Boehner should bring this bill to the floor immediately for a vote. Let us act now and extend it for 3 months, and help our neighbors help themselves as we help our Nation.

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