Press Conference with Rep. Cantor (R-VA); Rep. Bachmann (R-MN); Rep. Garrett (R-NJ); Rep. Granger (R-TX); Rep. Hensarling (R-TX); Rep. Jordan (R-OH)
Statement
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REP. JORDAN: Thank you, Michele.
You know, I gave a speech yesterday to a group of small business owners in our district, and I said there was a point in the past historically speaking in an economic context where it didn't matter as much if politicians made poor decisions. If you think about after World War II, we were going to win. Europe was devastated; Japan was devastated. We were going to become the greatest economy in history, and we are. But today it matters.
It counts a lot more, and it's important that, in the past, we might have been able to succeed in spite of what politicians did. Today, it's important we enact the right kind of policy so that we're not beating that horse, as Mr. Hensarling pointed out.
And I think it's critical for two reasons -- two key reasons. First is the changing demographics in our country, and this is nothing that we all don't understand already. The baby boom generation begins to retire this year -- those born between '46 and '64. That implication, how that relates to making sure we keep the promises that the federal government made to our citizens is critical.
And of course, the second dynamic is the one that I think probably is more associated with what we're rolling out today, and that is the changing face of the international marketplace. Today it matters. I mean, the competition is stiffer, the competition is tougher. And you all know the number. I mean, think about the fact -- we have 310 million people in this country. China has 1,310,000,000 people. We're competing with everyone now, and it's important that we not saddle our business owners, our small business owners, with ridiculous taxation and that we lower that burden so we can compete. And I believe, like I know everyone else on this stage believes, if we set the right framework, the right context, Americans can compete with anybody and we can win. And it's critical for those reasons we enact this legislation.
So I applaud Eric and the rest of the folks who have rolled this out. I think about our district -- and I said this yesterday as well -- 18 congressional districts in Ohio. The 4th District is number two in agriculture. We're also number two in manufacturing, just short of being the number one manufacturing district in our state. And this kind of legislation is going to be good for the families across the 4th District. It's going to be great for people across Ohio. More importantly, is going to be great for all American families and business owners. So I'm proud to be a part of rolling this legislation out today. So, with that, I introduce my friend from New Jersey, Representative Garrett.
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