Transcript of Pelosi, Senate and House Democratic Leaders Press Event on Extending Unemployment Insurance Benefits

Contact: Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. – House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate and House Democratic leaders held a press event today on the need to extend unemployment insurance benefits for the 1.4 million hard-working Americans who have played by the rules and lost their jobs through no fault of their own. Below are the Leader's opening and closing remarks:

Leader Pelosi's Opening Remarks

"Good morning, everyone. This is going to be a very good year for the American people. Here we are starting a new session of Congress at the beginning of a New Year. And on the very first day, under the leadership of Senator Reed of Rhode Island and Senator Reid of Nevada as well, the Senate was able to vote to proceed on extending unemployment benefits. Thank you. Thank you for your leadership.

[Applause]

"It's an honor to be here with Senator Reed, with Senator Casey. I understand there are some Pennsylvanians in the house.

[Applause]

"You should know what a champion he has been on this issue. I know you know that. And Mr. Trumka has some Pennsylvania connections as well. I'm honored to be here with Sandy Levin, our champion in the House on this subject. Congressman Steve Horsford of Nevada and Reverend Michael Livingston from the Interfaith Workers Justice Coalition are here. It's an honor to be with them. We are all honored to be here with you, with our workers, because the story of each individual family is the most eloquent message that we can give.

"We all know what economists tell us – that unless we pass these benefits, about a quarter of a million more people will lose their jobs; that passing unemployment, extending unemployment insurance benefits brings money back to the treasury, to the economy. It's spent immediately. It injects demand into the economy. It creates jobs. We know that. We know that that is important in terms of the economy – the numbers speak for themselves. The statistics are overwhelming: 1.4 million families.

"But each individual family's story would be enough reason for us to go forward with this. How we could have ever left Washington, D.C. with this expiring is hard to explain to anyone. That was then. This is now. We have a new fresh start. And I just left a celebration in observance of the 50th anniversary of President Lyndon Johnson declaring an unconditional War on Poverty.

[Applause]

"It's also the first week in which the Affordable Care Act is fully implemented, where millions of people have access to it.

[Applause]

"We have an agenda about raising the minimum wage, extending unemployment benefits, paid sick leave, childcare, you name it - to end a disparity of income in our country. But right now we have an immediate urgency to pass unemployment insurance benefits. Anyone who cares about that or the individual families affected by that owes a deep debt of gratitude to our leader in the United States Senate on this issue. Senator Reed of Rhode Island has been a relentless, persistent, dissatisfied – what other word could I use? A great leader in this fight. We wouldn't be where we are right now without him – that is to say on the verge of passing unemployment insurance. Welcome, Senator Reed."

Leader Pelosi's Closing Remarks

"Thank you very much. I thank all of our elected officials for their presentations. I thank Reverend Livingston and President Trumka for challenging the conscience of the country. And for President Trumka for challenging the conscience of the Congress to get this job done and to do it now.

"When I heard Reverend Livingston, I was reminded of a quote that I used in an earlier meeting on the War of Poverty. I was referencing the speech of South African Ambassador to the United States at the Cathedral for the funeral service of President Mandela. And what he said in his remarks, I think, bears repeating here. He said there are certain fears to avoid and we must fear – or not fear, we must reject the selfishness that tells us that ‘poverty is because of laziness, that disease is because of immortality and violence because of our genes.' And he went on to say that we reject that we ‘are not each other's keeper.' He said: ‘We are our brother's keeper. We are indeed and we owe that to each other.'

[Applause]

"Now, we talked about the temperature and how the Republicans in the House are prepared to leave the workers out in the cold. We talked about the time that is long overdue to pass this. We commend the Senate for working in a bipartisan way to move this forward. Rev. Livingston says we want to do this without having to pay this for it because it is an emergency. And if 1.4 million people in country were affected by a natural disaster or something else, it would be considered an emergency without offsets. So we can move that more quickly forward.

"The challenge we have, Mr. President Trumka, is that in the House, the Speaker of the House has not really told us that he would bring this up unless it is paid for. How do we want to pay for it? They've suggested in some ways – taking the Child Tax Credit away from poor children. We don't think that's a good payfor. But we're open to hear what they have to say, although we don't think it should be paid for. He also said unless there are job initiatives, which he describes as the same initiatives that got us where we are in the first place, and that is tax cuts for the rich and special interests. That's their jobs agenda: not building the infrastructure of America, which we have in our budget. And then third, he wants to change – give benefits to special interests in terms of regulation.

"So, he keeps putting up: ‘First it has to be paid for. Then, we need tax breaks for the rich and special interest. Then, we need to change the rules of clean air and clean water.' You name it, whatever it is – all of which is harmful to children and living things. So we have a problem and the best strength we have is public sentiment because as President Trumka said: ‘Public sentiment is there.' The public understands that we need to pass these benefits and we must do it now. And we want to work as cooperatively in a bipartisan way, hear what their suggestions are. Perhaps we can come to terms, but the term has to be that immediately we will pass these benefits for three months to give us time to talk about – as Mr. Levin said – where did he go? Over the next year.

"I just also want to acknowledge two of our colleagues who have joined us: the Ranking Member, once and future Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, John Conyers of Michigan; and Congresswoman Judy Chu of California who had to go on to her committee work, but who was with us earlier.

"Our commitment is to be as described by Senator Jack Reed: relentless, persistent, dissatisfied until we get this done. It is inevitable to us that it will happen. It may be inconceivable to some Republicans that it will happen soon. We have to shorten the distance between the inevitable to us and the inconceivable to them.

"So, we have work to do. Let's get to work. Let's make this first week of January one that is marked by bipartisanship, by effectiveness about getting the job now. So that we can have jobs for the American people but in the meantime, have these benfits passed.

"Thank you all for coming. We salute you for your strength."

[Applause]

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