[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 193 (Thursday, December 15, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2278]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          MIDDLE CLASS TAX RELIEF AND JOB CREATION ACT OF 2011

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. LAURA RICHARDSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 13, 2011

  Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to 
H.R. 3630, the GOP Tax Extenders Package. This bill does nothing to 
create jobs, support the middle class or stimulate our economy. 
Instead, the Republicans have decided to play politics at the expense 
of ninety-nine percent of American families.
  As we wrap up this year's legislative business, individuals receiving 
unemployment insurance benefits, physicians anxiously awaiting 
certainty that they will be adequately reimbursed for treatment they 
deliver to Medicare patients and millions of middle class families 
facing a tax increase are depending on us to put politics aside and act 
responsibly. Unfortunately, the GOP Tax Extenders Package is mere 
political theater that takes an irresponsible approach to solving these 
issues.
  Mr. Speaker, President Obama called on Congress to extend the payroll 
tax deduction in order to save working Americans an average of $1,500 
over the next year. If Congress does not act by the end of the year, 
American families making an average of $50,000 per year will see their 
taxes raised $1,000. At a time when the average American is struggling 
to make ends meet, it is essential that we extend the payroll tax cut 
to ensure that middle class American families can spend the money 
they've earned. Lowering the rate Americans contribute to Social 
Security out of their paychecks will help stimulate consumer spending, 
create jobs and revive our economy.
  While the Republican bill we are considering today extends the 
current payroll tax cut by two percent and addresses the SGR ``doc 
fix'' for two years, there are a number of ideological poison pills 
attached to this bill that simply make this measure unacceptable. 
First, the bill cuts Medicare provider rates by over $21 billion and 
significantly increases the number of Medicare beneficiaries required 
to pay higher premiums for services they need.
  Second, the bill would cut over $21 billion from Affordable Care Act 
programs, which will increase the ranks of the uninsured by 170,000 
Americans. Although we are making progress in ensuring that more 
Americans have access to quality and affordable health insurance plans, 
the Republicans are recklessly attempting to roll back provisions of 
the Affordable Care Act that have proven successful at increasing 
access to healthcare. The Prevention and Public Health Trust Fund, an 
essential piece of the Affordable Care Act tasked with promoting 
healthy lifestyles and prevention treatment to keep Americans healthy, 
would suffer a deleterious $8 billion cut.
  Further, this bill would roll back the amount of time benefits are 
provided to recipients of emergency unemployment compensation. The 
current program allows beneficiaries to receive unemployment 
compensation for up to 99 weeks; however, the Republican Tax Extenders 
Package would lower that amount of time to 59 weeks. As we are all 
aware, the current job market is extraordinarily bleak. With the 
unemployment level in my district hovering around twenty percent, 
shortening the length of time benefits are provided would have a 
devastating impact on those who rely on unemployment compensation as 
their main source of income.
  Mr. Speaker, cutting back emergency unemployment compensation from 99 
to 59 weeks hurts the most vulnerable members of our society. That is 
why I submitted an amendment to this legislation that would extend 
current unemployment benefits for 2012, if the implementation of 
subtitle B of title II is found to have a disproportionately adverse 
effect on workers aged 55 and older by the Secretary of Labor. Had my 
amendment been made in order and adopted, it would have provided much 
needed relief to job-seeking seniors in this tough economic 
environment.
  Time is running out. Republican brinksmanship on must-pass 
legislation continues to damage job creation and create uncertainty for 
businesses and the markets. In their Pledge to America, House 
Republicans promised to focus on jobs and keep extraneous and 
controversial provisions out of must-pass legislation. This bill is yet 
another example of their broken promises to the American people.
  For all these reasons I cannot support H.R. 3630, and I urge my 
colleagues to join me in voting against this bill.

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