LaredoBuzz.Com

 

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) released the following statement after the President spoke to a Joint Session of Congress on his plan for job creation in the United States:

 

“I am encouraged that the President of the United States and Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle and Capitol came together tonight to acknowledge the U.S. must no longer allow nearly 14 million Americans to remain unemployed. It is not the American way and action must be taken now. I applaud the President for putting together a package, which provides tax cuts, construction of roads, bridges and schools. This is a step in the right direction. Once the unemployment rate, which teeters at 9.1 percent, begins to decrease, our economic gain will follow. More jobs will spur the economy forward with increased consumer spending, market confidence, and the ability to be globally competitive with a highly skilled workforce.

 

“The President’s address tonight to Congress re-emphasizes our national priorities. We can all agree that we need more jobs, but the key is to work in a bipartisan, bicameral manner to set aside partisan politics that create a fog in our path to job creation.

 

“While the President addressed Congress tonight on his jobs plan, I too have advocated for bipartisan compromises that tackle the nation’s pressing issues of unemployment and economic recovery. For example, I support implementing three important free trade agreements with Panama, Colombia, and Korea. According to the Administration, these pending trade agreements will support over 250,000 jobs in industries like manufacturing, services, and agriculture. That is a good start for increasing our international relations, while creating jobs domestically. I also believe that more jobs can be created when small businesses have access to capital from our community banks, on the condition that our community banks are lifted from the burdensome regulations that tie their hands from lending. Fewer regulations on our community banks will bring more flexibility and create jobs, from our small businesses to our local communities.

 

“Further, extending the payroll tax credit will bring relief for employers who hire the unemployed. It creates incentives for employers and benefits to newly hired employees. Win, win. Additionally, during our August district work period, in which members of Congress spent time with their constituents at meetings and town halls, I, along with other Members of the Blue Dog Coalition, sent a letter to House Speaker John Boehner and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi asking them to bring Congress back into session to start working on these pressing issues, such as more jobs. 

 

“The ripple effects of job creation will create a tidal wave to recovery. It is unacceptable to have a stagnant unemployment rate, so now is the time to work together with Republicans and Democrats to find a compromise and real solutions for a jobs plan. I pledge to do all I can to bring more jobs for you – Congress needs to work to bring Americans back to work.”

 

###