Resolution Relating to the Consideration of House Report 113-415 and an Accompanying Resolution, and Providing for Consderation of H. Res. 565, Appointment of Special Counsel to Investigate Internal Revenue Service

Floor Speech

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Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Massachusetts for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to defeat the previous question so that we can immediately bring up H.R. 4415, which would restore unemployment benefits to 2.8 million Americans, people who have lost their job and are simply trying to find their next job and want to prevent their families from losing everything they have worked for in that period.

I heard the gentleman on the other side say that folks on this side are trying to change the subject to something else. You have got almost 3 million Americans who stand to lose everything they have worked for, everything that they have built over their lifetime, and this Congress has the power to act. We could do it today. The Senate passed an unemployment extension. The President will sign it.

On the other side, we heard that we don't want to take up UI because it is not paid for. So, we have a bill that the Senate passed in a bipartisan fashion that is paid for. It does not increase the deficit. You have got the bill you want. You have got the bill you asked for. It would save almost 3 million people from losing everything they have fought for.

Do we bring that to the floor? No vote on unemployment extension. We can talk about everything else, we can bring political messaging bills to the floor, but for the 2.8 million people who are losing everything, no vote for them, not in the House of Representatives today.

For the 72,000 people every week that are losing their unemployment benefits--hardworking Americans--some on the other side say they want to be unemployed. Yesterday, we had a group of unemployed citizens. We intended to have a hearing. We couldn't get a room. The Republican leadership wouldn't allow it. We went to the steps of the Capitol, and we heard these stories.

I suggest we take a look at the people in your own district, in your own districts back home who are unemployed, trying to find their next job, have lost their unemployment benefits, and look them in the face and tell them that the political messaging bills that are coming to this House are more important than preserving the life that these people have worked hard to create for themselves and their kids.

Some of the issues that we deal with in this House are really complex questions. Some of them are not so complicated. This is one that is simple: 2.8 million people could be helped only if this Congress will act.

Set aside this nonsense. Bring up H.R. 4415, and let's get back to the business of the American people.

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