Date: 2010-05-28
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I lived through the era of the Bush administration that had no summer jobs. no concern about our young people. and I tell you it was a crying shame. The doctor fix: my doctors in Houston. the Texas Medical Center. those who work very hard to provide patient services to our seniors. we are providing them with a 2.2 increase. 1 percent in 2011. and then it goes up to current levels. Closing foreign loopholes is saving taxpayer money. That is the point. And of course recognizing that were creating jobs. jobs. jobs. You know what the point is? We have the courage to make a difference for America. I rise in strong support of H.R. 4213. The American Jobs. Closing Tax Loopholes and Preventing Outsourcing Act. I would like to thank my colleague. the Honorable SANDY LEVIN. Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. for introducing this important legislation. Mr. Speaker. getting all Americans back to work is. and should be. our number one priority. It is essential that the Congress continue to create avenues that will provide employers with incentives to hire and to retain new employees. Therefore. I have been a major supporter of comprehensive efforts to create jobs for the unemployed constituents of the 18th Congressional District of Texas. as well as throughout the State of Texas and the nation. Indeed. as a Member of the Congressional Black Caucus. I have been working tirelessly to ensure that the number of jobs available in the economy drastically increases. This includes an increase in the amount of summer jobs. jobs for the longterm unemployed. and jobs for the permanently laid off. Also. I continue to support efforts to relieve the plight of many Americans. in vulnerable communities. who have been hit hardest by unemployment. Again. Mr. Speaker. H.R. 4213. "The American Jobs. Closing Tax Loopholes and Preventing Outsourcing Act" is the right bill at the right time in our economic recovery. The bill is yet another important measure. which I strongly believe is essential to addressing the nations alarmingly persistent high rate of unemployment. particularly among African- Americans. Hispanic Americans and others vulnerable populations. A January 2010 Washington Post article reported that unemployment for AfricanAmericans is projected to reach a 25year high this year. Some believe the national rate of unemployment for AfricanAmericans will soar to 17.2 percent. and the rates in five states will exceed 20 percent. Of course. we know during the course of the recession. the unemployment rate has grown much faster for African Americans and Latinos than for whites. Through the American Recovery Act of 2009. Congress was able to provide much needed assistance to many Americans who were struggling from the effects of the economic downturn and the collapse of our financial markets. Unfortunately. of the $787 billion provided through the economic stimulus package. the unemployment rate in the U.S. has not been substantially reduced. currently. the unemployment rate in the U.S. stands at 9.9 percent. Again. any comprehensive initiative to create jobs is welcomed. because I remain concerned about high unemployment anywhere it is being experienced in the U.S. According to the Texas Workforce Commission. the current unemployment rate for Houston is 8.4 percent. while a May 6. 2010 Los Angeles Times article noted that the national unemployment rate for Hispanic Americans exceeded 13.0 percent. Because unemployment remains acute and needs persist that in communities all across the country. I support the major provisions of the bill. including: (1) Small business lendingThe bill will extend the small business lending program created under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This program will eliminate the fees normally charged for loans through the Small Business Administration. providing access to capital not available in the private market. (2) Infrastructure investmentsUnder the bill. comprehensive relief is provided for our Nations aging infrastructure and transportation needs. A wide range of measures including addressing housing. schools and hospitals. Funds are provided to continue remediating the nations "Brownfields" sites. opening up new opportunities for redevelopment of distressed communities. (3) Summer jobsThe bill funds a summer jobs program for the Nations youth. Our Nations youth ages 1619 have a 25% unemployment ratesome of the highest unemployment numbers in the country. Reducing unemployment among the Nation youth will be widely beneficial to working poor families and the youth themselves. (4) National Housing Trust FundThe bill capitalizes the much need National Housing Trust Fund. providing expanded assistance to communities with major shortages of affordable housing. (5) Oil Spill. Flood Insurance and Mine SafetyThe oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico highlights the need to increase the liability cap for oil companies for cleanup purposes from $1 billion to $5 billion. The bill also extends the expiration date of the National Flood Insurance program to December 31. 2010. Mine safety issues are also funded in this bill. providing incentives for mining companies to have uptodate safety equipment. (6) Closing Tax Loopholesthe American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010 includes a series of measures designed to close tax loopholes exploited by individuals and corporate entities. as well as a means of closing tax loopholes for foreign subsidiaries of U.S companies. another means of keeping jobs at home. (7) Medicares Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR)-Another major provision of the bill related to affordable health care cancels the scheduled pay cut for Medicare physicians. This will enable the Nations physicians to continue serving the Nations growing elderly population and to stay in practice. In addition. the legislation will help companies and State and local governments generate jobs. while providing tax relief and economic assistance to many American families in need of assistance. I agree with Chairman LEVIN when he indicates. "By promoting jobs here in the U.S. and cracking down on loopholes that encourage companies to move overseas. we strengthen opportunities for American workers and businesses so that we can continue building on recent economic growth toward a robust recovery." The extension of unemployment and health benefits through the end of the year is also critical to many workers and their families to make ends meet while they continue to search for jobs. Given the fact that the U.S. economy has shown signs of improvement. the use of fiscal stimulus is the most prudent policy to sustain economic growth and to create jobs as the major restructuring of the U.S. economy continues. We are now part of the global economy. with implications for the future of the U.S. economy. However. we must first look within to determine our prioritiesthe number one priority has to be the American worker. We must get jobs in the hands of the most vulnerable individuals in the country. In addition. I will work with my colleagues to restore the COBRA extension and the State Medicaid assistance (FMAP) provisions of the original bill. Mr. Speaker. I stand with Chairman LEVIN in support of this bill and urge my colleagues to do the same.