Date: 2012-03-22
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I thank the cochair of the Progressive Caucus for once again reminding America of Americas greatness. Thats why over 90plus Members join together to be members of the Progressive Caucus. We have a sense of optimism that reflects our commitment to investing in human capital. Earlier today. I had the opportunity of listening to a discourse about the transportation bill. and I will point to what weve done with infrastructure. There was the representation by the majority leader that were living in hard times. we dont have money. that we cant be looking. for example. at the Senate bill and we cant move forward. And I just listened as our minority whip spoke about the urgency of moving forward on an infrastructure bill. What I think is important. and really the theme that I wanted to focus on as I listened to you in my officeI just left about 12 constituents who are the beneficiaries of community health clinics. one of the items that weve supported as a Progressive Caucus for a very long time and championed along with the TriCaucus. to put in the Affordable Care Act. which. by the way. the 2year anniversary is tomorrow. The point is that we have optimism. We have the sense that America can get it done. Youve just put up a very telling poster that when our Republican friends begin to talk. were headed toward a pathway of devastation: no Medicare. no Medicaid. allowing reckless investments or speculation to occur. jobs overseas. and not focusing on our recovery. By the way. we understand a balanced budget. We are using war savings for the people of the United States of America. Our troops come home. and we realign our national security focus. I think most Americans will understand that. even national security experts will tell us that it is probably a challenge to think we will have a ground war invasion like weve had years past ever again. that were now fighting a war on terrorism or acts of terrorism. Certainly. as we look to tell others to. in essence. become unnuclearized. we too must join the worlds family because its only oneupmanship. I would just say that we do not disarm our Nation. We believe in defending our Nation. but we believe in doing it in a smart way. What we have done is that we have these words. "comprehensive economic recovery." but Id like to say this is a smileyfaced optimistic pathway for Americans. Dont you think young people who are now sophomores. juniors. and seniors in college looking for their bright daydoes anyone remember as we come upon May how exciting it was to look forward to a college graduation. a trade school graduation? You were just tickled pink. You were making sure your invitations were out. You were hoping that all relatives could make sure they had no conflicts. You really wanted Grandma there or your aunt there or your favorite brother there or Mom and Dad there or family there. This was an exciting time. The Progressive Caucus budget speaks to that excitement and optimism and hopefulness. Our budget has an infrastructure bank that allows the private sector to come together and effectively bring about infrastructure projects in all manner of areas. from the hamlets that are so small. to the villages. to the county governments. to the city governments and State governments. I introduced a surface transportation bill that has been slowed. another bill that would generate income and transportation security and recognize that we must secure our surface transportation. In this bill. we proposed a 6year $556 billion reauthorization bill that. over 10 years. would lead to a $213 billion increase in transportation funding. What it would also do is create many jobs that provide for small contractors. minorityowned contractors. womenowned contractors. It would create work. Its an optimistic view. The making work pay tax credit from 20132015 is about lets let folks who are working. let those get a benefit that makes sense. Then we have more than $2 trillion in domestic investment packaging. Just let me mention the idea of when you work with emergency jobs to restore the American Dream. getting people out where improvement is neededstudent improvement. park improvement. student jobs. neighborhood heroes. community health clinics. federally qualified clinics. and child care corpsgetting folks to work. [1 1440 In my town. Mr. ELLISON. in the Southwest as you well know. we had a great drought in the last year. Volunteers are trying to plant trees. but I tell you we could stand for a Heroes Corps. we could stand for a Community Corps to get out there and help us reseed America. if you will. We know that. We know the Job Corps. But this is a concept that gets folks out working. I also want to congratulate the University of HoustonDowntown that is heavily minority that just won the distinguished honor roll recognition for the largest amount of community service done by a campus across the Nation. cited by the Department of Education. That means people are ready to put that to work. Tax credits for investment in advanced energy. Ive got a company right in my community thats been awarded for its new. innovative work on energy. manufacturing. capital access for entrepreneurs of small business. Now. let me just say this. I am excited about the 3 million Apple 3s that were sold because I think that is optimistic. and it employs the genius of America and it goes against the sad. deflated concept. Now. let me be very clear. I am not ignoring the unemployed Americans. I want to be very clear on that. I dont think the Progressive Caucus has for a moment. We did a job tour. Were going back out again. We have no reason to dismiss the person who is now sitting unemployed. What I want to say is there is some optimism. Weve got to get all of those folks to be part of this new surge of optimism which this Progressive Caucus budget. if passed. would generate. But I want to just say this to my good friends at Apple. Bring the jobs home. You are manufacturing Apple 3 in China. I certainly believe in an international framework. I know that everything cant be made in America. made at home. But I do know that aspects of the talent that youre using in China can be found here in the United States. And the cost of shipmentI can tell you you can save some dollars. Lets put our thinking caps on for companies like Apple and find a way that you can balance those resources. Im just going to cite General Electric. I know that we had put a real heavy heat on General Electric. I am told by their employees they are bringing jobs home. I met with some employees in my district who have indicated that they have been bringing them on home. I looked at them. They were real. They were alive. So. they have jobs. and they said they work for General Electric. Lets have a number of companies looking that way. Let me quickly just mention because this is all exciting. and I think people need to hear about excitement and opportunity. We already talked about the manufacturing communitys tax credit. tax credit for the production of advanced technology vehicles. Again. everybody is saying were slow on the hybrid. were slow on the electric car. But all of that can create opportunity. tax credits for alternative fuel commercial vehicles. which is very possible. Double the amount of expense startup expenditures. So that means that if youve got a startup. were going to double what you can expense. I think that makes a lot of sense. Young people are the ones that are always starting startups. We need to encourage that. Enhance and make permanent the research and experimentation tax credit. That is right in the line of the Texas Medical Center. Many of our medical research hospitals. MD Anderson in the 18th Congressional District. while its our neighbor. is working on new technology. This fits an optimistic view on how we can cure the worst of the worst. Let me also say that I want to make mention that we are dealing with tax brackets. and we are looking. I think. at sensible policies dealing with capital gains and State policy. What I would say to people who are listening to us: Get on our Web site and give us your input. Were interested in what you have to say. As well. let me just put in a pitch that no one likes the season when April 15 comes around. But weve tried to make our tax reform palatable. As far as I can see. we have left alone the charitable tax exemption. I tell you there are those who are very concerned that we leave little room for those who have that on the table. have everything on the table. that they would attack the charitable tax exemption and not go to some of the ones that the Progressive Caucus has focused on. because this nonprofit. this foundation. said they would be stopped in their tracks. I had one foundation. one nonprofit talk to me today and say how challenging it is to get funding for the disadvantaged and programs that deal with intercity. So I want you to know that the Progressive Caucus recognizes the value of the charitable tax deduction. and you dont find that on our table. I want to say something to Mr. ELLISON. I wanted to mention. for a moment. Trayvon Martin.