Labor & Employment Law

Jobs: Job One for Congress

By James Parks

Putting people to work making things in America will be Democrats’ top priority when Congress returns Sept. 15, two House leaders said today. During a telephone press conference, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said House Democrats will present a series of bill in this Congress and the next to help revive manufacturing and to implement President Obama?s infrastructure rebuilding plan.

Rep. Xavier  Becerra (D-Calif.), vice chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, said the Democrats want to put to rest the idea pushed by congressional Republicans that the only way to create jobs is to give tax breaks to the richest Americans.

We want to celebrate Labor Day. We want to make this a day for workers again by making products in America again. Jobs is Job One for this Congress and we?re going to continue to do this despite what the naysayers may say.

 The  ?Make It in America? initiative is a 17-bill package designed to help manufacturers recover from the Great Recession and the loss of 5.6 million manufacturing jobs in the past decade.

 The House Ways and Means Committee will hold important hearings soon on the issue of China?s manipulation of its currency. The AFL-CIO has been urging Congress to take quick, strong action to stop the unfair and illegal advantage against U.S. producers that China and other nations gain by undervaluing their currency.

 The AFL-CIO is backing S. 3134, the Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act of 2010, which would give our government the tools and resolve it needs to address currency manipulation.

Another major bill that may come to the floor is H.R. 5893, the Investing in American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010. Introduced by Ways and Means Chairman Sander Levin (D-Mich.), the bill would close loopholes that encourage companies to ship jobs overseas. The legislation would spur job creation here in the United States by extending successful Recovery Act provisions, including the Build America Bonds program to fund domestic infrastructure improvements and the Emergency Fund for Job Creation and Assistance program to help states immediately support job programs. 

Trumka, who joined in the conference call, told reporters ?we desperately need decisive action from our leaders on both fiscal and monetary policy.?

It?s time for our leaders to show they are economic patriots. That?s what we?re looking for?economic patriotism. Leaders fighting to protect jobs, fighting unfair trade deals and putting us on a path to make things in America again. In short, to invest in America and American workers.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on September 07, 2010 (boomark / email).