Jackson Lee calls for unemployment benefits for 'working men and women'

In her fervor to save unemployment benefits for out-of-work Americans, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee apparently got a bit tongue-tied.

The Houston Democrat called upon her fellow Congress members to extend jobless benefits for people with jobs.

"Let us vote to provide for unemployment insurance for working men and women so that faces across America will not have the tear of desperation on their faces," she said Dec. 12 during brief remarks before she was gaveled to silence when her time expired.

Jackson Lee's comment came on the eve of Congress leaving town for the holidays without addressing the impending end of emergency unemployment benefits.

On Monday, Jackson Lee said she plans to introduce legislation to both call Congress back to Washington and to extend emergency unemployment compensation until Jan. 1, 2015.

Although most members will be absent, a few will be present and legislation can be passed by unanimous consent, she said.

Some have suggested the extension can be passed retroactively, but Jackson Lee said she was concerned that would leave a gap for people who will lose benefits Dec. 28.

Sheila Jackson Lee denounces Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia on "The Ed Show." Sheila Jackson Lee denounces Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia on "The Ed Show." Photo: MSNBC Photo: MSNBC Image 1 of / 84 Caption Close Jackson Lee calls for unemployment benefits for 'working men and women' 1 / 84 Back to Gallery

"I do not want to leave to anyone's imagination that this is not a crisis issue," she said. "None of us expected that (benefits) would not be extended in 2013."

Also on Friday, Jackson Lee issued this statement:

"Unless Congress acts, 1.3 million jobless workers will lose their unemployment benefits on December 28th. And according to the Congressional Budget Office, an additional 3.6 million workers will lose access to benefits in 2014."

In her statement, she noted that President George W. Bush signed the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act in 2008, when the jobless rate was just 5.6 percent. Today, after two months of job growth, it's 7 percent, her statement said.

There are still 20 million Americans who want a full-time job and can't find one, she said.

Of those receiving emergency unemployment compensation, Jackson Lee said 40 percent made $30,000 to $75,000 a year before they lost their jobs, and 20 percent were college graduates.

"(Emergency) and regular unemployment benefits mean people have money for gas, food, clothes, and to pay their rent or mortgage while they look for work," she said in the statement.