CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE RELEASES PRESS STATEMENT ON WITNESS WEDNESDAYS
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee released the following statement today after participating in "Witness Wednesdays" where Members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, faith, labor, and non-profit leaders focused on giving a voice to the pain of the unemployed by reading their stories and examining the long-term impact of unemployment on local economies and small businesses:
"Earlier this year in an effort to restore unemployment insurance to the nearly 64,000 Texas residents and the 1.3 million unemployed workers nationally who lost their unemployment insurance, and protect the nearly 72,000 additional Americans losing their benefits each week I cosponsored H.R. 3824 - The Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act that would extend federal unemployment insurance for three months.
"This legislation was advanced for consideration as part of a procedural motion that was blocked by Republicans by a vote of 226-191. Earlier this year the President announced a $150 million grant competition through the Department of Labor to support innovative public-private partnerships geared toward helping prepare and place the long-term unemployed in open positions. The President led by example by using his executive authority to sign a Presidential Memorandum to ensure the federal government also adopted these best practices, to ensure individuals who are unemployed or have faced financial difficulties due to no fault of their own receive fair treatment and consideration for employment.
"I will always be a steadfast and dedicated leader in the fight to extend unemployment insurance for millions of Americans who have worked hard, played by the rules, and lost their job through no fault of their own. I have introduced H.R. 3888 - the ‘New Chance for a New Start in Life Act' provides a means for training the long-term unemployed to fill the high-demand positions of the future. This bill creates a conduit for the long-term unemployed to receive grants that can be used to receive the crucial training that can undoubtedly afford them a new start after months of unsuccessful attempts at getting jobs. Additionally, these grants do not impact the individual's current unemployment compensation benefits. This training will prepare them specifically for labor fields of projected growth, like health care, social assistance and construction sectors. It will empower people that want to work by giving them the skills necessary to succeed."
"I have also introduced H.R. 3773 – the ‘Unemployed Jobhunters Protection and Assistance Act of 2013,' which extends the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) for 12 months, until January 1, 2015. For many Americans, this extension is a necessity of life. This action would not be necessary had the House adopted the amendment offered by the Democrats which have extended these unemployment benefits. I strongly supported that alternative because we should not be depriving hard working job hunters of this compensation. This is NOT a partisan issue: The Emergency Unemployment Compensation program was signed into law in 2008 by President Bush when the unemployment rate was 5.6 percent and the average duration of unemployment was 17 weeks. Today – after the last two good months of job growth – the unemployment rate is 7 percent and the average spell is 36 weeks. Long-term unemployment has been growing because the job market remains so bad.
"Nearly 1.3 million long-term unemployed workers, including the 64,000 Texas residents, lost their unemployment insurance when benefits expired on December 28, 2013. Economists have reported that unemployment insurance is one of the best ways to spur economic growth, delivering $1.52 in economic activity for every $1 spent."