Press Release
I am saddened by the death of esteemed journalist David Broder. For decades, David brought our country a wealth of fair and evenhanded reporting, analysis, and commentary—work that was valued for its insights on both sides of the aisle. The respect that David garnered as ‘Dean’ of the Washington press corps was well-earned. His tireless work to keep the public informed, and his contributions to American journalism, will be sorely missed.
Whether retired or active, Federal public servants and their service to the American people—whether they are Democrats, Republicans, or Independents—deserve respect. As someone who represents almost 60,000 Federal employees in Maryland’s 5th Congressional District and sees the contributions of public servants on a daily basis, they certainly have mine.
The Speaker has indicated he is going to convene the House Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group to decide whether to intervene in cases concerning the Defense of Marriage Act. I believe the Administration has correctly concluded that the statute is discriminatory and unconstitutional. I therefore will oppose intervening in cases regarding this Act.
Today’s news on job creation is encouraging: our country added 192,000 jobs last month. Our unemployment rate is now 8.9%—and in recent months, the unemployment rate has declined at the fastest pace in almost 28 years. While these numbers are signs of an economy regaining its health, they also remind us that millions of Americans are still out of work and that more needs to be done.
Tomorrow, the Department of Labor will release its report on February’s employment numbers. And while we don’t yet know the results, one thing is certain: if the news is good, Republicans will try to take credit for it. It’s just as certain that they will have no basis in fact for doing so. As this Congress approaches the two-month mark, Republicans have yet to offer a single piece of job-creating legislation.
I support the repeal of the new 1099 reporting requirements, and have voted for their repeal in the past. But due to the manner in which this bill is paid for, I cannot support today’s legislation, as it would increase the burden on middle class Americans.
The faithful members of NTEU have much to be proud of: protecting our nation’s borders to keep our enemies out; ensuring that our nation’s new financial regulatory laws are implemented so that we don’t have another 2008 Wall Street meltdown; and performing critical scientific research in numerous federal agencies that promote the safety and well-being of all Americans. In short, the vast majority of Americans know that they are serving our nation.
Congress has now sent a two-week Continuing Resolution to the President to cut spending and keep the government running. We have now cut $45 billion of the $100 billion that Republicans have set as their goal. Funding government two weeks at a time is inefficient and cannot continue.
I want to thank Chairman Rockefeller and Ranking Member Hutchison for giving me the opportunity to speak on one of our nation’s defining challenges: strengthening and creating jobs for America’s middle class. That same goal is behind the Democrats’ Make It In America agenda. Make It In America is about creating an environment in which American businesses can thrive, innovate, and create jobs here—and it is about ensuring we have a workforce that can fill the well-paying jobs of the future. I believe that when more products are made in America, more families will be able to Make It In America.
This month marks Women’s History Month, an opportunity to remember and celebrate generations of women who have made indelible contributions to our nation. Across all areas of society, women have made a real and lasting impact, which serves as an inspiration to all those that follow.