Press Releases

I rise in opposition to this rule and in opposition to the three bills that would be made in order by this rule.

Regulatory uncertainty is a canard invented by Republicans that allows them to use current economic problems to pursue an agenda supported by the business community year in and year out. In other words, it is a simple case of political opportunism, not a serious effort to deal with high unemployment.

Those aren't my words, M. Speaker. Those are the words of Bruce Bartlett, a Republican who worked for Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Jack Kemp and Ron Paul.

Think about what Mr. Bartlett is saying in his last sentence - Republicans would rather play political games instead of putting people back to work. They would rather fiddle while Rome burns instead of putting out the fire.

And look at the Republican track record since the start of the 112^th Congress. No jobs bills. Not one. But we've found time to debate bills defunding Planned Parenthood and NPR. No extension of the Payroll Tax Cut or Unemployment Insurance. But we can spend hours debating the need to allow unsafe people the right to carry concealed weapons. No effort to take away tax breaks for oil companies who continue to make billions of dollars in profits each month! But we can find time to make our air dirtier and our water less safe by dismantling the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts.

Seriously, M. Speaker, the agenda of the far right continues to dominate this House leadership. And that agenda is out of touch with the needs of the American people.

We have a jobs crisis in this country. The rich are getting richer and everyone else is struggling. Yet the Republicans continue to side with the people who don't need any help.

They killed the Super Committee because they would rather protect tax cuts for millionaires instead of dealing with the deficit. They are refusing to take up the extension of the payroll tax cut that expires at the end of this year because they don't want their millionaire friends to pay just a little bit more.

Just look at what we're doing this week. We're going to consider anti-regulatory bills that will make our country less safe and our citizens less healthy. We're going to consider a bill that actually promotes putting more corporate money into the political system. And we're going to debate a bill that makes it harder for workers to organize.

Not one of these bills will put people back to work. Not one of these bills will help struggling families keep their heat on during the winter. Not one of these bills will help repair our aging infrastructure.

To quote Mr. Bartlett again, -people are increasingly concerned about unemployment, but Republicans have nothing to offer them.-

And that's the truth, M. Speaker. Republicans have nothing to offer.

The President proposed - and I have cosponsored - the American Jobs Act. It's a proposal that would help put Americans back to work, would extend the payroll tax cut and unemployment insurance, would help repair our aging infrastructure and would provide aid to cities and states so they don't have to lay off more teachers, police and firefighters. It's a bill that's paid for - it doesn't add one cent to the deficit. And it's made up of measures that Republicans and Democrats have supported in the past.

The idea that a program was a good one under President Bush but not under President Obama doesn't make sense to me, but that seems to be the thought process that passes for governing under this Republican leadership.

So where's the Republican plan?

They don't have one.

It's not enough to cross our fingers and hope that our economy improves. It's not enough to close our eyes and wish that more people would find a job.

Actions speak louder than words and its clear, by the Republican leadership's actions, that they don't care about the economy. Either that, or they are making a conscious decision not to act simply for political gain.

Either way, Americans are hurting because of their inaction.

M. Speaker, our economy is not where it needs to be. There are still too many unemployed people in this country. There are still too many people struggling to make ends meet; struggling to pay their bills and put food on their tables.

But this notion that red tape is what's keeping our economy from getting off the ground and that thoughtful regulations are preventing people from getting jobs is untrue.

We don't need to waste time debating bills that make our air and water dirtier and less safe.

We don't need to waste time with bills defunding NPR and Planned Parenthood.

What we need to do is get this economy moving.

What we need to do is create jobs.

Republicans have been in charge for 330 days. That's 330 days without a jobs bill. It's not enough to call something a jobs bill if it doesn't put someone back to work.

No, M. Speaker, we need a real jobs bill. We need definitive action that shows that American people that we care about their well being, that we understand what they're going through and that we're here to help.

The bills we'll be considering this week just don't get the job done. It's been 330 days and the Republicans still don't get it.

I can't say that I'm surprised. Disappointed, but not surprised.

I reserve the balance of my time.