Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension

Floor Speech

Mr. PETERS. I rise today in support of H.R. 3345, an act to continue the current Federal unemployment programs through next year. If Congress doesn't act by the end of the year, Americans who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own will begin losing their unemployment benefits in January. Tens of thousands of Michiganders will lose their benefits by February. These benefits are their lifeline for necessities like groceries, utilities, and rent or mortgage payments. Once these families can no longer pay for basic necessities, it will create a ripple effect, costing nearly a million U.S. jobs nationwide.

Poverty is at its highest level since 1993, and middle class household incomes are at their lowest level since 1997. Unemployment benefits have kept over 3 million Americans, including 1 million children, out of poverty last year. And now the Republicans are willing to let these necessary benefits expire.

Madam Speaker, as we approach the holiday season and millions of Americans are worried about paying their rent, I urge my colleagues to support this bill and keep millions of Americans out of poverty.

Source