[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 5 (Tuesday, January 29, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E47]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 JOB CREATION AND ECONOMIC SECURITY ACT

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                           HON. JOHN R. THUNE

                            of south dakota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 29, 2002

  Mr. THUNE. Mr. Speaker, while it appears that our economy has begun 
to pull out of its recent doldrums, people in South Dakota and across 
our Nation continue to need help.
  I have been arguing for months that the best way to address many of 
the problems facing our nation is to first get our economy back on 
track. I strongly believe one of the ways to accomplish this goal is to 
pass an economic security bill.
  That's why, Mr. Speaker, today I have introduced the Jobs Creation 
and Economic Security Act. This legislation is needed to get the 
economy moving and put people back to work.
  Some have argued that our economy doesn't need help or even that 
putting dollars back into the pockets of American taxpayers actually 
sent the economy into recession in the first place. Nothing could be 
further from the truth.
  That's an economics I don't understand and frankly one that every 
expert I've talked to flatly contradicts. They will tell you that 
getting the money out of Washington and back in the hands of Americans 
is the best way to create jobs, instill consumer confidence and get the 
economy moving.
  The provisions of my bill include a tax rebate for those who didn't 
get a rebate last year, reducing the 27.5 percent rate to 25 percent 
immediately, providing for accelerated depreciation for businesses, 
including farmers, providing unemployment and health care benefits and 
providing needed tax relief for farmers.
  Passing this legislation will be a great first step in getting our 
economy moving. However, I believe we can also do more. Congress needs 
to pass a farm bill as soon as possible so farmers will know what 
programs to expect when they begin planting. The House has already 
passed legislation to improve and maintain the necessary farm programs, 
while adding a counter-cyclinal safety net to help producers when times 
are tough. It has a strong and balanced conservation title that 
provides incentives for both idling environmentally sensitive land and 
for performing conservation practices on working lands.
  In addition, it supports value-added agriculture to help producers 
add value to their raw commodities. Producers will receive more of the 
value of what they grow, not merely settling for the prices that they 
are given at market.
  Congress should also enact the President's energy bill. Again, the 
House has already passed a comprehensive national energy policy, 
because we've become too dependent on foreign oil. The House bill takes 
a balanced approach toward finding new resources here at home and 
developing new ideas for the future. It also works to improve 
conservation today while developing renewable energy sources for 
tomorrow.
  By acting now on each of these measures Congress can put our economy 
and our nation on the path toward prosperity. Our constituents demand 
it and deserve nothing less.

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