Date: 2010-12-09
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. as I indicated. let me thank you for your leadership. I think it is important to always engage our colleagues in reasoned conversation. Before I begin a reasoned conversation and asking of the hard questions. let me. first of all. add my appreciation to this bipartisan House that saw fit to create opportunities for young. working Americans. and that is by passage of the DREAM Act. And the only sentence I want to leave with you. beyond the idea of equality and justice. which many times we take lightly. we use it often. but it is very real. It is why so many Americans pledge allegiance to the flag and have an abiding faith and love in this country. But also. this is an economic engine of investment for those young people who have come to this country. and perpetrated no criminal act of their own. and now will be able to work and contribute to society. serve us in the United States military. perpetuate community service and generally. as we always ask of our young people. to be the kind of citizens that make this country great. Thank you for passing the DREAM Act. Now well have many months to come to renew the effort that I had in Save America Comprehensive Immigration Act. that includes border security and reinforcement of the men and women in Border Patrol and as well. Customs and Border Protection. combined agencies now. but as well. new technology and working to secure America as we should. And so I look forward to that journey again. However. there are other issues that I believe are enormously important. and many of us have engaged in what has been known to be the providing for middle class. middleincome tax cuts or relief. is what I like to call it. And I believe that there is some value to ones values. So let me just say to my colleagues and through them. those who they represent. the American people. who are. in fact. our bosses. this is not a class warfare. This is not "dissing" one particular group. but it is holding true to what you have asked us to do. bar any political party. and that is to reduce the deficit. So. my friends. a middleincome tax relief that would include. if you will. a child tax credit. that would include an idea of ensuring that the working Americans who are now. unfortunately. unemployed will have unemployment insurance. that would further include those who have run up against a brick wall. the "99ers" as they call them. dont have any more resources but still have mortgages and food to pay for and bills to pay. and they want to pay for it. A reasoned tax relief legislation will be the real answer. not the answer. if you will. of a huge. ridiculous amount of dollars going to individuals who. of their own voice. have said. we are well. We are well. The economy is turning. the Dow is working. If you ask our major banks. they have more than $4 billionplus in some of our major banks in the third quarter in profits. And as well. we see that the economy is moving. In fact. we know that some of the unemployment numbers even went down. But we need to focus on reducing that deficit. not adding to it by a ludicrous. reordering of even the Bush response to estate tax. And that is. to create a $68 billion. if you will. burden on the American people to give an unusual tax relief to an estate of a magnitude that only fits a small number of people. some 39.000 out of a 300 millionperson country. Were not trying to deny those working family farms. those small businesses that will have an opportunity to benefit again. But let me remind you there were tax cuts in the stimulus. There were tax cuts in the recent Small Business Jobs Act. some 16 or more tax cuts for small businesses. In addition. there is $30 billion sitting for small businesses in our community banks. I believe some of the elements of any kind of tax relief should ensure that those who get tax relief. such as major corporations. should have accountability. Yes. they should have profit. but at the same time there should be a linkage to their commitment to retaining jobs and not laying people off. We want the right kind of relief for the American people. and thats the kind of tax bill that Ill be supporting. And I look forward to my colleagues working with them.