[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 193 (Thursday, December 15, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2274-E2275]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EXTEND UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
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HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL
of new york
in the house of representatives
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because people are suffering.
Time's running out for America's long-term job hunters. If Congress
fails to act by December 31, nearly 2 million will be cut off in
January alone. And without action in 2012, that number will rise to at
least 6 million.
The Ways & Means Committee has been collecting stories on Facebook of
people who have lost their jobs and Mr. Levin has been reading them on
the floor. Yesterday SEIU launched the ExtendUI tweet-a-thon in hopes
to make a powerful case to ExtendUI without cuts or preconditions that
hurt the 99 percent. I also collected stories on my Facebook page and
via Twitter. Here are some of the stories from my constituents in their
own words. Republicans, are you listening? Can't you hear the pain and
cries of the American people?
Don Wright: ``I need a job for a lot of reasons but the most
important one is Dignity. When you don't have a job you feel terrible.
It is hard to face other people especially your family. You don't feel
like a man anymore. You can't get any respect from your wife and if she
leaves you nobody wants to go out with a man without a job. So you are
staying single and broke and alone. You get depressed and feel hopeless
and you are a good man if you fight against envy--envy of others who
have jobs and the things that a job brings. Your family loves you but
are at the same time ashamed of you and your kids become worried at
being asked what their Daddy does. The list goes on all of it bad. A
job any job would be better than no job. Keep the jobless in your mind
and hearts.''
Paula Christianson: ``I lost my job over a year ago due to a accident
that left me disabled longer than the Family Medical Leave Act allowed.
I had worked there for almost 7 years and was voted employee of the
month but none of that mattered when they sent me a termination letter
to my home. This has all contributed to my depression issues and
Generalized Anxiety disorder. All I do is worry how I am going to
survive! It consumes me. Please don't take away this help it is my and
many others only hope left! I am not looking for a handout just a
helping hand to continue to support my family until I can find
employment! Again, please help!''
Patricia Dentley: ``I took an early termination package in hopes of
continuing working until retirement age, but almost 6 years later, I'm
still unemployed, and because of how my package was setup, I couldn't
claim unemployment during the initial period after working. I was never
in anyone's statistics regarding unemployed, with no benefits other
than filing for early retirement or not having that. Most of the jobs
with the company I was with is now in other countries with whom the
American companies are paying less money, less benefits, and reaping a
lot from these countries. I do want the other people in these countries
to improve their lives, but we also have to live in ours. I don't know
if you remember when our country paid farmers not to farm, now, not
only are many people in our country unable to purchase the higher cost
foods today, but other countries whom they could have helped are also
starving, why, because of greed. I hope this helps not only you
Representative Rangel, but a lot of other people you are fighting
for.''
Jeanne Alvarado: ``I was laid off from my position at Coca Cola
Enterprises a year and a half ago. This happened two months before I
was to be vested in the company. To say the least, I was devastated and
depressed however, I picked myself up and immediately started seeking
employment. I have applied to hundreds of positions within the five
boroughs which include all the beverage companies, nursing homes etc. I
have only had the opportunity to interview for five positions. The
painful hard fact Congressman is that companies do not want to hire
people of my age group.
[[Page E2275]]
There is nothing out there for us at this age. I am 52 years old and I
have worked since I am thirteen. Most of my teen and adults years I
worked two jobs while raising my children. At this age I should be
enjoying life with my family and grandchildren however, I find myself
scared, depressed and full of anxiety at the thought of perhaps finding
myself homeless. I have only one check left and then I will have no
income. My savings is totally gone, as a matter of fact I do not even
have a bank account anymore. My credit is destroyed and I am in a
serious financial crisis. The little $288 dollars I receive from
unemployment helps me keep food on the table and pay the minimum to my
bills which are all behind. Thank God my son won a scholarship for
college or else he might not have been able to further his education. I
have to say I resent the Republicans for assuming that we the
unemployed are lazy and do not look for work. Yes this might be the
case for some however, there is good and bad in everything in life just
as there are good Politicians and bad ones. That does not mean we must
form a general opinion based on only a few. I am not a lazy person. As
a matter of fact, I am willing to clean toilets if it means keeping a
roof over my head and food on my table. Most Republicans are rich and
will go home to a happy holiday, for many of us there will be no
holiday. I cannot even afford to buy a tree this year. Please let the
Republicans in the House know that many people, does not matter
Democrat or Republican, are watching and are growing a real distaste
for the cruel treatment we are getting. Thank you Congressman for you
time.''
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