Press Release
I tell people the Democratic party sees themselves as the party of workers, but if we're going to be the party of workers, we have to be the party of employers. People have to understand that synergy. I think it's appropriate that the President reaches out. We have an agenda that I call Make It In America. That has a number of meanings. Obviously going to make it, you are going to succeed. But also that we're going to manufacture things, make things and sell them abroad, grow things and sell them abroad. The President wants to double exports. The way we'll do that is to have a working relationship between business and the Congress and the President.
Today, the results of Southern Sudan’s secession referendum were released: they show that the people of Southern Sudan have overwhelmingly voted to secede from the north. This referendum marks an historic moment: it is an opportunity for the people of Sudan, both north and south, to put to rest the legacy of Africa’s bloodiest civil war. An independent Southern Sudan means the possibility of peace and security for its people; for those who have suffered from decades of civil strife, today is a day of great hope. I am grateful to those in Sudan, the international community, the Obama Administration, and the humanitarian community who helped make this vote possible.
Today’s employment report for January shows that America’s private sector grew for the 13th month in a row. For the second straight month, our unemployment rate dropped by .4%, to 9.0%, matching the sharpest one-month decline since 1998. But more needs to be done for the millions of Americans who are still out of work.
I believe it is essential that Washington return to fiscal responsibility and tackle our deep debt. While cutting spending is part of the solution, a responsible approach must recognize there are federal investments that can best help grow our economy and create jobs. The Republican plan to cut those job-creating investments is dangerously short-sighted. The economy is starting to move again, but Republican policies would put the brakes on it. And Republicans are ignoring the calls from business, education and other leaders to increase key investments in innovation, education, and infrastructure that are at the heart of economic growth and job creation. Just as few parents would immediately cut back on their children’s education to balance their household budget, America should not follow Republican proposals to shortchange the future.
This afternoon, House Democrats held an important hearing on the ongoing work of job-creation and economic recovery for the middle class. As President Obama has argued persuasively, wise investments in innovation, education, and infrastructure are essential to America’s economic competitiveness and to creating a future of well-paying jobs. That's why Democrats continue to work to pass the Make It In America agenda, legislation aimed at rebuilding America's manufacturing strength and middle-class opportunity. It's also why Democrats have helped states and cities across our country finance much-needed roads and bridges, water and sewer projects, hospitals, energy projects, public utilities, and more. These projects mean immediate jobs--but they also mean a strong foundation for future growth.
The vote in the Senate today on the Affordable Care Act is a distraction from what the American people want us to focus on – jobs. This vote shows that Republicans are not only ignoring Americans’ priorities, but are trying to put insurance companies back in charge of American families’ health care. The American people do not support repealing critical patient protections in the new law, such as ending discrimination against people with pre-existing conditions, making prescription drugs more affordable for America’s seniors, and allowing young Americans to stay on their parents’ plans until the age of 26
Each February, America observes Black History Month to honor the legacy of the generations of African-Americans who made indelible contributions to every sphere of our national life, from culture and business to politics and science. Our nation was founded on an ideal of equality, an ideal that has the power to bind us together as Americans, no matter our race or walk of life. But for centuries, America was also marked by a failure to live up to that founding promise; as a result, African-Americans were marginalized from our national life and largely excluded from the retelling of our history. We mark Black History Month as an effort to tell an American story that is more truthful—one that recognizes the more than 400 years of African-Americans whose lives helped to make our country what it is today.
Today’s court ruling is one of many different district court rulings on this matter and represents one individual step in an ongoing judicial process. I am confident that when the legal process has been concluded, the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act will be upheld.
I strongly support the new ‘Startup America’ initiative, which goes hand-in-hand with House Democrats’ Make It In America agenda to strengthen our manufacturing sector and ensure middle-class families can succeed. I look forward to working with President Obama as we move to unleash the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship that is so unique to the American economy. It is that spirit that will keep driving job creation and keep the U.S. as the world leader in the 21st century global economy.
Today’s deficit report from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office shows our deficit is at an unsustainable level, clearly demonstrating the need for bipartisan action to put our country’s fiscal house in order. It is encouraging that the CBO’s forecast for economic growth has improved since its last report in August. Our economy is expected to continue growing--a positive outlook due, in part, to the Democratic policies that have helped put Americans back to work.