Schakowsky Floor Remarks on Do-Nothing Congress

September 21, 2012

Thank you, Mr./Madam Speaker.

Today, this House will adjourn and will not meet again for almost two months - the earliest adjournment before an election in over 50 years.

Republicans are going to turn off the lights in this chamber, shutting down debate on matters of serious consequence to Americans and the economy.

They've voted time after time to repeal Obamacare and protect tax cuts for the wealthy and rich corporations.

But they have taken no action on preserving tax cuts for the middle class.

Or how about the Violence Against Women Act — which passed the Senate by a vote of 68 to 31?

Or sequestration — which could have a devastating impact on investments that create jobs and protect low-income people.

There's been no action on the Post Office, the farm bill, or regular funding for the federal government for a fiscal year that starts in 10 days.

And most importantly, while Republicans have voted again and again to end the Medicare guarantee, making harder for seniors to choose their own doctor and increasing their costs by $6,000 instead of bringing a comprehensive jobs bill to the floor.

The millions of hard-working American people who are still looking for work deserve better than that, Mr./Madam Speaker.

Over a year ago I introduced the Emergency Jobs to Restore the American Dream Act to create more than 2 million jobs and put people back to work in the most straightforward way — by hiring them.

My bill would put people to work in areas critical to our communities and our economy — teachers, cops and firefighters, health care workers, school construction and maintenance workers.

And over a year ago the President sent to Congress the American Jobs Act, which incorporated parts of my bill and also would provide tax credits to small businesses and assistance to state and local governments to prevent lay-offs.

Independent experts estimated that his bill would create 2.6 million jobs.

But has the Republican Do-Nothing Congress brought either of those bills to the floor? No.

Democrats would gladly stay to fight for jobs and the economy. It's time for Republicans to join us.

I yield back.