Pete Sessions votes against extension of unemployment benefits

Last week, the House passed H.R. 3548 to extend unemployment benefits beyond the current limitation of 13 weeks; the bill passed with a 2/3 majority, 331-83, with Pete Sessions joining the minority of those who voted no (see Roll No. 722).

From Middle Class.Org:

Middle Class Supports. While economists see signs of economic recovery, 14.9 million unemployed Americans still cannot find work. The unemployment rate continues to rise and now stands at 9.7%, keeping middle-class Americans at risk of being thrown out of work as a result of the economic downturn. According to the National Employment Law Project, 5 million Americans have been unemployed for six months or longer and half of the unemployed cannot find jobs within the first six months of receiving unemployment insurance benefits. There are 6 jobless workers for every job opening. Recent extensions of the duration of unemployment benefits have been necessary but insufficient: 400,000 unemployed workers will have exhausted their benefits by the end of September, a number that will increase to a devastating 1.3 million by the end of the year.

The Unemployment Compensation Extension Act would ease the financial pain associated with long-term unemployment. Unemployment benefits provide direct assistance to the current and aspiring middle-class Americans likely to be hardest hit during the economic downturn, people who want to work but have lost their means of support through no fault of their own...

Pete Sessions votes against modernizing public schools

Yesterday, the House passed H.R. 2187, the 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act. The bill passed 275-155 on a near-party line vote, with most Democrats voting in favor, and all but 24 Republicans voting against. (See Roll No. 259).

On Monday, the bill was referred to the Senate committee, where it was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

The bill provides $6 billion to upgrade the nation's public schools, with special emphasis on "green" building technology. Read about how the nation's schools will benefit in the following articles:

Plan for green schools advances (South Dakota)

School Libraries to Benefit from Green Schools Bill (School Library Journal)

KY Rep’s Green Schools Bill Passes House, (WFPL News)

Party of No: ‘No’ to school improvements (North Carolina)

Pete Sessions says "no" to Green Schools

Today, the House passed the 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act, which provides "outreach and technical assistance to States and school districts concerning the best practices in school modernization, renovation, repair, and construction, including those related to student academic achievement and student and staff health, energy efficiency, and environmental protection." The bill passed 250 yeas to 164 nays, with 27 Republicans voting with the majority, and the rest--including Pete Sessions--voting no. Roll Call information at this link: Roll Call 379