Press Release

Today the Joint Select Committee begins its critical task of putting our nation back on a fiscally sustainable path. It is imperative that the Committee succeed in reaching an agreement so that we can give Americans, businesses, and the international community confidence in our economy and our ability to come together and address the challenges we face. I believe they should strive for the biggest agreement possible. It should be balanced and ensure that everyone pays their fair share, rather than putting the entire burden of balancing the budget on the backs of the middle class and seniors.

I want to thank the Progressive Caucus for their tireless focus on putting Americans back to work. Americans across the country continue to struggle in a weak economy, and the Progressive Caucus has made sure that those Americans are not forgotten. While Republicans have not taken strong action on jobs this year, the Progressive Caucus continues to advocate for job creation measures. I look forward to working with them to create jobs through the President’s American Jobs Act, House Democrats’ Make It In America plan, and the Rebuild the American Dream Framework.

The President has delivered the American Jobs Act to the Hill, and I urge Republican leaders to bring this bill to the Floor as soon as possible. For nine months Republicans have not put forward a jobs plan or taken action to put Americans back to work. The American Jobs Act incorporates ideas that have bipartisan support, and it is paid for by closing wasteful tax loopholes to oil companies and for corporate jets while taking steps toward ensuring the wealthy pay their fair share. A number of provisions are similar to elements of House Democrats’ Make It In America agenda to create manufacturing jobs and lift the middle class. I hope Republicans will put politics aside so that we can pass the American Jobs Act quickly.

I am pleased that today the House was able to amend the Intelligence Authorization bill in order to ensure bipartisan support for this critical legislation. This bill makes smart choices that will help eliminate wasteful spending while still ensuring that our intelligence community personnel have all the tools they need to keep America safe. As we approach the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks and confront new threats to the homeland, we are reminded of the challenges we face and honor the brave men and women in the intelligence community who work around the clock to protect us.

A decade ago, the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001, changed our world. Today, we reflect on the ways that we have changed in the wake of that dark day; we reflect on both heroism and mistakes, on brave sacrifices and on the deaths of so many we loved.

I thought it was a good speech. I thought it was a very pointed speech. And I thought it was a speech that offered alternatives, as that the President pointed out, both parties have supported over the years. Republicans talk about putting money in people's pockets. The President’s [plan], clearly, most of it is tax cuts to put money not only in people's pockets but in the pockets of small business so they can grow businesses and hire people.

Tonight the President laid out his plan to create jobs and grow the economy through the American Jobs Act.  He reminded us that everyone should have the chance to 'make it in America' through hard work, and how many fear those days are gone.

All of us have just returned from the summer break and a lot of us didn't get breaks, per se, but we visited with a lot of our people, both in our own districts and throughout the country. It's no surprise that they are very, very concerned about our economy, about jobs, and yes, they continue to be concerned about the fiscal posture of their country. We need to address jobs and fiscal responsibility.