Progressive Caucus

Floor Speech

Thank you, Mr. Pocan, for your leadership on this critical issue. I also want to thank the gentleman from Illinois for all he has done to try and bring this vote to the floor.

A majority of Americans support renewing unemployment insurance, but the majority here in the House continue to show that they are out of step with American families by refusing to extend unemployment insurance for the 2 million Americans who need it, and the families of my home district in Massachusetts are left to suffer because of it.

This out-of-touch majority has invested billions of dollars in tax breaks for the ultra-rich and for wealthy corporations that have often shipped our jobs overseas. Yet, they are refusing to help those who are looking for work, our job-seekers who are struggling to care for their families and put food on the table.

I cringe when I hear some of the Members of the majority blame poverty on the poor, and then vote to give tax breaks for the wealthy. It is the same majority that looks to slash the budget and put that burden on the backs of our children and seniors.

Some have said that Democrats want to give children a full stomach and an empty soul, but I would say, people who would deny a hungry child lunch, they are the ones who need to worry about the condition of their soul.

In Massachusetts, more than $100 million has been taken out of our economy as Congress has failed to act on this issue. I signed the discharge petition to force a vote on unemployment insurance on behalf of the nearly 80,000 workers in Massachusetts who have lost their unemployment benefits. They cannot afford to wait for the majority to catch up with the rest of the country, who know this is the right thing to do.

Again, I thank the gentleman from Wisconsin for this opportunity, and I thank you for your work.

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