IV 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 332 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 2, 2009 Mr. Tiahrt submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor RESOLUTION Providing that the House of Representatives will focus on removing barriers to a prosperous economy and therefore renew the dream.

Whereas history tells us that economies are built from the ground up and not from the government down; Whereas the economy of the United States is experiencing a severe downturn; Whereas assuming massive private debt through billion-dollar bailouts has not eased our economic woes; Whereas the United States is headed towards adding an additional $8.7 trillion in national debt between fiscal years 2009 and 2016 due to excessive government spending and bailouts; Whereas the United States has lost over 2.6 million jobs in the past 4 months alone; Whereas the manufacturing sector and small businesses are forced to close their doors every day; Whereas the economy of the United States is part of a global economy in which domestic industries face ever stronger competition from foreign industries; Whereas growth in exports accounts for 1/6 of all growth in the United States economy; Whereas approximately 1 in 5 factory jobs in the United States depends directly on international trade; Whereas American farmers export 1/3 of their crops, and exports generate nearly 25 percent of farmers' gross sales; Whereas the estimated total regulatory burden on United States business is more than $850 billion per year; Whereas according to a study sponsored by the Office of Advocacy of the Small Business Administration, government regulations cost firms with fewer than 20 employees 45 percent more per employee than the cost to firms with more than 500 employees; Whereas the Office of Management and Budget estimates that for every dollar of direct budget expenditure devoted to regulatory activity, the private sector spends $45 to comply with regulations; Whereas high-technology industries are driving economic growth around the world, as shown by the fact that the global market for high-technology goods is growing at a faster rate than the rate for other manufactured goods; Whereas more than 1 million American jobs are dependant upon research and development spending in the United States; Whereas the cost of medical care in the United States regularly outpaces general inflation; Whereas 2/3 of Americans who are under age 65 and covered by health insurance currently obtain that insurance through employers; Whereas 85 percent of jobs in the United States today are classified as skilled jobs and in 1950 only 20 percent of jobs were so classified; Whereas 80 percent of the 50 fastest growing occupations require education beyond high school; Whereas in 2007, United States taxpayers spent an estimated $183 billion and 3.18 billion hours to comply with the Federal income tax code; Whereas the tax compliance burden is twice as much for businesses with fewer than 20 employees as it is for businesses with more than 500 employees; Whereas total energy consumption in the United States is expected to increase more rapidly than domestic energy supply through at least 2025; Whereas the Energy Information Administration projects that net imports will constitute 36 percent of total United States energy consumption in 2025, as compared with only 26 percent in 2002; and Whereas according to a study sponsored by the National Association of Manufacturers and American Council for Capital Formation, consumers will face a 61 percent increase in gasoline prices unless the United States implements a policy to increase the supply of affordable energy: Now, therefore, be it

That— (1)the House of Representatives— (A)recognizes that there are existing barriers to keeping and creating jobs in the United States, including a tax system that punishes success and is too complex, burdensome and ineffective regulations, lack of energy independence, stability, lifelong learning, and trade fairness, the abuse of lawsuits, and an expensive and outdated health care system; and (B)recognizes that improving the strength of the United States economy depends on congressional action to remove these barriers; and (2)it is the sense of the House of Representatives that— (A)every Federal agency should review its rules and policies regarding the agents of the United States economy and work with, rather than against, job creators to create a safe workplace in a way that will also allow them to be successful; and (B)Congress should enact comprehensive legislation to remove such barriers that will lead to a prosperous economy and renew the dream.