[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 191 (Tuesday, December 13, 2011)] [House] [Pages H8737-H8738] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] {time} 1050 THE MIDDLE CLASS TAX RELIEF AND JOB CREATION ACT OF 2011 The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) for 5 minutes. Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition of H.R. 3630, the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act. This bill is yet another example of Republicans bringing a partisan bill to the floor which has no chance of becoming law. At this critical time in our economy, Republicans are continuing to pursue their own ideological agenda. Time and again, Republicans continue to choose brinksmanship over constructive engagement with Democrats. Allowing these extensions to expire would have a devastating impact on our economic growth and job creation. Republicans must put aside partisan differences and work with Democrats so that we can assist millions of Americans who lost their jobs through no fault of their own. Putting money in the pockets of American families should be one of our top priorities. It just seems like common sense. Although H.R. 3630 extends the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program until January 2013, it also lowers the amount of time benefits are provided from 99 weeks currently to 59 weeks. Furthermore, the bill also would allow States to require a high school diploma or being enrolled in classes for a GED to be eligible for benefits. The bill also offsets the cost by freezing Federal employee pay for another year through 2013. Although recent data has shown that the national unemployment rate has dropped to 8.6 percent, the African American unemployment rate rose at the same time from 15.1 percent to 15.5 percent. High African American unemployment rates are a direct result of the high job loss in the public sector. During the past year, while the private sector has added 1.6 million jobs, State and local governments have shed at least 142,000 positions. Because traditionally there has been racial discrimination in employment, blacks have relied on government jobs in large numbers since the Reconstruction era. As a matter of fact, one of the [[Page H8738]] first job openings for freed enslaved people was the United States Postal Service, which opened their doors and hired qualified ex-slaves during that period. We will be passing legislation that helps the private sector, but we also need to be concerned about the public sector instead of freezing or limiting their pay. As a matter of fact, the private sector has been very derelict. During World War II, even though the United States was way behind in our development of a war machine--ships, tanks, and boats--President Roosevelt had to send an Executive order to companies insisting that they hire African Americans because we were losing the effort, but they refused to break down racial discrimination even as we were being outmanned by our enemies. And so we find there is still the difficulty for African Americans to get into the private sector; and we find that, therefore, many are losing their jobs in the public sector. H.R. 3630 also makes large cuts in health care programs. It cuts over $21 billion from the Affordable Care Act programs, which will increase the uninsured by 170,000 Americans. Additionally, H.R. 3630 rolls back the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program substantially, making drastic cuts to Medicare, and contains controversial riders that should not be included in this bill. We should not risk tax increases on middle class families, dropping unemployment benefits for those out of work, or preventing seniors from accessing their doctors through Medicare by including unrelated and controversial provisions. The bill is fiscally careless, and it increases the deficit by $25.3 billion over the next 10 years, according to CBO. Due to the more than $21.5 billion in provider cuts, the American Hospital Association is urging Congress to oppose this bill that will harm health care in communities across America. Important funding for preventive care that was included in the Affordable Care Act is also subject to billions of dollars in cuts. Changes in the bill will result in 170,000 more uninsured Americans. So, therefore, I urge defeat of this unfair plan, which also throws in the pipeline, which makes no sense. ____________________