Digital Exhibits

"Unemployment Benefits" televised news coverage on dislocated timber workers video recording

A video featuring news coverage on extended unemployment benefits being offered to dislocated timber workers, especially those in the process of retraining for other industries. By the early 1990s, Oregon's once powerful timber industry saw mill closures and large layoffs. In the video, various laid off timber workers express their gratitude for the extended benefits. A reporter shares how US Representatives Les AuCoin and Peter DeFazio were among those who were in contact with the White House for months to have the benefits extended, with the Bush administration vetoing multiple pieces of legislation. At the 1:15 minute mark, AuCoin states that "unemployment benefit is not welfare, it's not a handout, it's not a stopgap measure... that is a Stone Age mentality that the Congress has resisted, that Peter DeFazio and I have resisted, and that today we celebrate the victory over in the passage of this legislation."

This is a digitized version of an analog videorecording from the Les AuCoin Papers (MS.147) at the Pacific University Archives. AuCoin served in the Oregon House of Representatives (1971-1975) and in the United States House of Representatives from Oregon's 1st District (1975-1993).

Northwest News

1991-1992

PUA_MS147_vid_067

United States. Congress. House.

Legislators--United States

Lumber trade--United States

Oregon

United States

(1 video file: 7 min, 2 s)

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/

Pacific University Archives

MP4