Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2011

Floor Speech

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

There are four important facts everyone should know about the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act:

First, it will strengthen our economy and help get Americans back to work by lowering the tax burden for middle class families and job providers alike;

Second, it prevents massive cuts to doctors working in the Medicare program to protect America's seniors and those with disabilities--providing more stability in the doctor payment schedule than there has been in a decade;

Third, it adopts a number of the President's legislative initiatives, which represents the bipartisan cooperation Americans are demanding; and

Fourth, it's fully paid for with spending cuts, not job-killing tax hikes. The CBO tables show the bill is fully offset and saves about $1 billion. And when you add in the flood insurance provisions, the savings are closer to $6 billion.

So it will help families struggling in this economy; it will help the unemployed get and keep a job; it helps seniors; it's bipartisan; and it is paid for.

The House should--and I expect it will--overwhelmingly pass this measure, and the Senate should quickly pass it so Americans can get what they truly want this holiday season--something that helps create jobs while helping those most in need.

While this bill includes the priorities of a number of committees, many of the provisions in H.R. 3630 are within the purview of the Ways and Means Committee.

This bill will extend for 1 year the payroll tax holiday to help middle class families struggling in this economy, while fully protecting the Social Security trust fund.

Mr. Speaker, I have a letter from the Social Security Chief Actuary confirming this fact that I would like to place in the Record.

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Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

We think it is important to extend unemployment benefits, and that's what this bill does; but we do it with commonsense reforms, reforms that will help those who are unemployed get not just a paycheck from the government, but get a job and get a paycheck from the private sector.

These commonsense reforms are things like requiring unemployment insurance recipients to search for work and, if they don't have a GED, to get a GED. But we have a commonsense exception provision so that if you're an older worker and you've been a pipe fitter for 30 years, well, obviously, a GED isn't going to help you in your job search. But for those who are younger and who don't have the skills they need, it's clear that if you have that certificate, your chances of losing your job are much less.

And, third, we think they should participate in services to get them reemployed. Those are important. States need more flexibility in this area to get waivers from the Federal Government so they can enter in reemployment programs. There are many ideas in the States out there. We aren't mandating this from Washington. We want the States to be the laboratories of invention here.

We also think it's important to allow States to screen applicants for drugs. There's been a 1960s Department of Labor ruling that says States can't even look at this area. But with screening, you can get workers the proper help so they're not bounced from a job because they fail a drug test or don't get hired because they fail a drug test. These are all important, commonsense reforms, and they will help reduce our unemployment rates. They will help people get jobs.

And let me just say, in terms of job search, it is important that there be requirements in legislation to do that. Florida, for example, now requires those claiming benefits to report online each week five jobs they've applied for or to meet with a jobs counselor. The result? In the first 3 months of the new law, 65 percent of the claimants did not meet that obligation. Well, they need to be out there assisting in finding jobs that they need.
Now, those are then keeping those resources for those who truly are unemployed and who truly can't find a job. In this era of limited resources, we need to make sure that they're used in the best, most effective and most efficient possible way. And these commonsense reforms give States the flexibility to design programs that meet the needs of their State, whether it be in drug screening, whether it be in searching for work, whether it be in employment services, or even States designing programs that allow the employers to receive part of the unemployment check so the workers get hired.

Those are the kinds of innovations that don't happen in Washington because they're saying, Extend the 99 weeks as is. Well, we can't afford to continue to deficit spend, as the other party did, $180 billion worth, since 2008, of unpaid-for unemployment benefits.

This is an important program. It's an important program that must be extended. It should be extended, and it will be extended if my colleagues vote for this legislation. And I urge support.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. Camp, we've just received information from the Department of Labor that the Republican bill would cut unemployment benefits for 3.3 million Americans next year compared to an extension of current law. In the name of reform, don't cut the rug out from the unemployed of this country who are looking for work. That is, in one word, inexcusable--inexcusable.

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Mr. CAMP. This bill will strengthen our economy and help get Americans back to work by lowering the tax burden for middle class families and job providers.

It prevents massive cuts to doctors working in the Medicare program to protect American seniors and those with disabilities, providing more stability in the doctor payment schedule than there has been in a decade.

It adopts 12 of the President's legislative initiatives, which represents the bipartisan cooperation Americans are demanding, and includes an increase in Medicare premiums for the wealthy, as the President requested.

It will extend Federal unemployment programs to 5 million Americans, those still struggling after the President's failed stimulus program. I'm still waiting for the 3.5 million jobs that were promised and the 6 percent unemployment rate. But we ensure in this bill that they get the assistance they need.

And under this bill, more than 1 year of benefits will be available. It's fully paid for with spending reductions, spending cuts, not job-killing tax hikes.

Commonsense reforms and savings in this bill include things like actually requiring those who receive an unemployment check to look for work and get a GED if they don't have a high school diploma, require undocumented workers who are seeking refundable--that's cash--tax credits to actually have a valid Social Security number, just like is required in the earned income tax credit.

And the bill freezes pay for Members of Congress and other nonmilitary government personnel. This legislation also protects critical programs by reducing the Federal tax subsidies that go to wealthier Americans. We put an end to millionaires and billionaires receiving unemployment benefits and food stamps, saving over $20 million.

We also adopt the President's plan to reduce subsidies to high-income seniors by requiring them to pay a greater share of their Medicare premium. That reduces Federal spending by $31 billion.

All told, this bill incorporates more than a dozen proposals the President has either offered, supported, or has signed into law in one variation or another. In fact, 90 percent of this bill is paid for with those policies.

I urge support of this legislation. This bill is about strengthening our economy, helping Americans find a job. It doesn't add one dime to the debt. It is bipartisan, and it will help get our economy back on track. Please vote ``yes'' for this bill.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, this motion to recommit is a further illustration of the glaring differences in priorities between Republicans and Democrats. Republicans have brought a plan to the floor today that is about protecting taxpayers and creating American jobs. And instead of joining us in that important task, my Democratic friends are offering yet another politically motivated motion.

In fact, one senior Democratic aide recently said to the press, and I quote, ``MTRs are all political.'' You can read it right here.

My colleagues and the American people should not be fooled. They should not be distracted by these political games.

Make no mistake. Our bill extends the payroll tax cut for every employee in this country. And if my friends on the other side of the aisle choose to vote against it, they are supporting a tax increase on every American who collects a paycheck.

This motion contains a massive 10-year tax increase. It increases taxes on employers, on small businesses, on investors, the very people we need paying more paychecks, not more taxes. In fact, this exact provision has been defeated multiple times in the U.S. Senate by Republicans and Democrats alike in a bipartisan effort.

Our bill is about strengthening our economy, getting Americans back to work through commonsense reforms to the unemployment insurance program. It will ensure American seniors and the disabled are protected by preventing massive cuts to doctors working in the Medicare program. And it will be paid for with fiscally responsible reforms, not job-killing tax hikes.

I urge my colleagues, vote against this motion to recommit and vote for the underlying bill.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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