Washington, DC -- Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY-17) issued the following statement Thursday following the failure of the House to pass the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Continuation Act (H.R. 6419).  The measure had a majority of votes, but under Suspension of the Rules it required a two-thirds majority. The emergency legislation would have extended unemployment insurance for millions of families, and is critical for approximately two million people who could lose their benefits by the end of the year. 

“I don’t know how it is possible to vote against this for what is essentially taking money out of the hands of families in need, especially before the holidays.  A handful of Republicans crossed party lines to support passage, and I applaud them.  Sadly, far too many of their colleagues had the same message for out-of-work Americans – Yes, Virginia, there is NO Santa Claus.  If we do not act to pass the benefits before the end of the year, we are forcing these vulnerable families to make some awful choices. 

“Sometimes I wonder if Republicans truly understand what out-of-work Americans are going through.  They are middle class families having a hard time simply paying bills and putting food on the table.  Now with the holidays approaching, they are going to be faced with not be able to give their children toys for the holidays.  I find it hard to believe that the same party which wants to keep almost $700 billion in Bush tax cuts for the wealthy, but denies a much smaller expenditure to help millions of vulnerable Americans.

“Recovery from the Bush-era recession has been slow, but is ongoing.  The bold steps taken by the Democratic Congress and President Obama stopped the bleeding, but the healing process is taking time.  In 75 years, we have never cut off unemployment insurance benefits when the unemployment percentage was so high.  Hardly anyone receiving unemployment benefits chooses to be in this position, but until more jobs are created we must do what is necessary.  Doing so will benefit the rest of the economy.”

The bill would extend the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) and Extended Benefits programs through February 28, 2011.

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