Date: 2010-07-26
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. thank you very much. for allowing us the opportunity to give a statement on this very important issue this evening. I am very glad to be joined by a number of colleagues over the next hour to discuss the importance of putting Americans back to work. Unfortunately. we cannot override the devastating consequences that followed eight years of Republican with a simply snap of a finger. However. the Democratic Caucus is on its way to restoring this countrys economic wellbeing. I think it is very appropriate that we commence this Special Order hour in the midst of an incredibly important and critical debate about the short and long term economic future of this country. This evening we will address the fact that the economy has been on a downward spiral long before the crisis of this past summer. Millions of once financially sound American families and businessessmall and largehave been teetering on the edge of poverty and bankruptcy. Prior to the Obama administration. our economy was set on a path of destruction never experienced by this generation. We were losing over 700.000 jobs a month and most families were struggling just to pay their bills. But. yes. what a difference a year has made. This Democratic Congress. working with President Obama. has chartered a new direction. Americans are now paying the lowest amount of tax rates since the 1950s. deductions on property taxes are available. States are receiving help with bonds to rebuild critical infrastructure such as hospitals and sewers. students are receiving tax relief for tuition and teachers are eligible for tax deductions for their outofpocket expenses. Finally. we must protect our coasts and increase the oil spill liability trust fund. The newest job numbers indicate that over 419.000 jobs were created last month. According to a recent Associated Press release. Texas has the greatest amount of job creation in 2010. Texas employers expanded payrolls by 43.600 during the month of May. making it the States largest monthly gain in more than three years. Companies like American Airlines. AT&T. and Texas Instruments are creating jobs in my district because North Texas is a good place to do business. This Spring. the House passed the Small Business and Infrastructure Jobs Tax Act. This legislation will create 160.000 jobs and extends successful Build America Bonds for schools. roads and bridges. We also passed the Summer Jobs Act which creates 300.000 summer job opportunities for our youth. We have seen an increase in GDP. an increase in manufacturing. and a significant increase in economic indicators. As President Obama said. this is the Nation where anyone with a good idea and the will to work hard can succeed. Dallas. my hometown. is no stranger to good ideas. hard work. or small businesses. I commend Dallas small businesses which have created hundreds of jobs. provided valuable goods and services. and helped drive our local economy. Madam Speaker. on May 28. 2010. the House of Representatives passed the America COMPETES reauthorization Act of 2010. which authorizes nearly $86 billion over the next five years to strengthen our nations competitiveness in science. technology. engineering and mathematics (STEM). Our Nation is being outpaced by our competitors in graduating scientists and engineers. It is so important to invest wisely in programs that truly make a difference in the achievement of our young people. Its about ensuring we are taking the right steps towards increasing American competitiveness and innovation. We have an obligation to the future of our Nation to assure every segment of our population has equal access and opportunity to pursue careers in Science and Math. According to the Census Bureau. 39 percent of the population under the age of 18 is a racial or ethnic minority. Yet. in 2003. only 4.4 percent of U.S. science and engineering jobs were held by African Americans and only 3.4 percent by Hispanics. Further. women represent only little more than one quarter of our science and technology workforce. As a senior Member of the committee on Science and Technology. I have attended hearings where recommendations were made to rapidly increase the number of federal undergraduate and graduate scholarships to persons from underrepresented groups in the sciences. Jobs created in the fields of science and engineering are the fastest growing and the highest paying. These are the jobs of the future. I want to commend the Congressional Black Caucus for working with me to include many provisions authorized in America COMPETES which strives to achieve social and economic justice. As a country. we are getting stronger and stronger. but we still have a long way to go. We must continue to invest in American businesses and in the American people. I urge my colleagues both in the House and Senate to come together to enact policies that create and encourage sustainable job creation for Americas workforce.