Congressman Jim McDermott Speaks in Support
of Extending Unemployment Benefits
For Immediate Release - December 17, 2003

Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA) shows his support for extending unemployment benefits during a rally at the Capitol that brought together unemployed workers and Congressional Democrat leaders. Minutes earlier, McDermott spoke on behalf of extending benefits on the floor of the House of Representatives.

Well, Merry Christmas Mr. Speaker.

We're here and we're going to have a party down at the White House tonight. Everyone is going to be full of happiness. But, the workers of this country aren't going to get anything done by the Republican Congress.

The leadership of the Republican Congress is ignoring the need to extend unemployment benefits this year just like they did last year.

We'll be back in January and there will be all this clamor about 'Oh, oh, oh, we've got to do something about unemployment.'

We know it now. We not only need to extend them, we need to fix a quirk in the law that keeps people in Washington state from even getting it if we were to extend it.

Now, the Administration likes to trumpet, 'Oh, the stock market is up and there are a few jobs here and there.'

But this recovery is a mile wide and an inch deep. Two out of every three people will not find a job. That's the statistic out of the Department of Labor in the Bush Administration. We know there are no jobs out there.

We say, 'Well, try harder, go work harder, walk around.'

No matter how hard you try or how dedicated you are, how willing you are to accept a job, if there is no chance, it sounds to me like, well, it's like being on the Titanic and looking down and seeing how many lifeboats there are and saying, 'Well, guess I'm not getting into one. I guess maybe the ship will make it.'

Washington remains one of the hardest hit states in the nation, despite being a diverse economy that is a model and microcosm of America. Too many people are falling through the cracks and the leadership of the Republican Party doesn't care. They want Marshall Law in here in the Congress. They'd be willing to put Marshall Law out into the street if the unemployed in this country rose up.

For every person we know who is unemployed many more have given up, dropped out of sight and out of reach.

Washington citizens from all walks of life look to us for leadership, look to us for a helping hand in a time of hardship. They deserve it.

For the good of America, we cannot turn our backs on our own people.

We can go and have that party down at the White House and there will bands playing and violins and lots of drinks and good food.

It's sort of like old England, that Scrooge business, 'Let's have a party, but we won't worry about the people out in the street.'

Vote against the previous question and make this Republican leadership bring up unemployment."