[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 56 (Wednesday, April 28, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S4448]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               JOBS BILL

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, this week our colleague, Senator John 
Kerry, is traveling to the Midwest to discuss ways to help boost job 
creation. While I applaud his intention on this issue, I also want to 
make certain Senator Kerry is aware we have scheduled a third floor 
debate on the JOBS bill--that is the very important bill on 
manufacturing in this country, S. 1637--to start next week. That 
important bill seeks to protect more than a million high-quality 
manufacturing jobs in the United States.
  Unfortunately, Senator Kerry's Democrat colleagues in the Senate are 
waging a filibuster against this jumpstart our business strength bill, 
the JOBS bill, having twice voted to prevent us from completing action 
on this essential manufacturing legislation.

  I do ask Senator Kerry to use his new position as his party's 
presumptive nominee, but in all likelihood the nominee, to help 
convince his colleagues to abandon this filibuster and move this 
legislation quickly toward passage.
  According to the National Foreign Trade Council, there are currently 
147,200 jobs in Ohio that hinge on passage of this JOBS bill; in 
Michigan, some 150,000 jobs will be impacted by this ill-advised 
filibuster; and in Pennsylvania, nearly 142,000 jobs are tied to this 
legislation.
  We must repeal these European tariffs on at least 100 U.S.-made 
products. People say: What sort of products? They include safety glass. 
They include portable handheld tools. They include marine engines. They 
include aluminum wire, steel wire. They include printing paper. This 
Euro tax started at $200 million in March. It increased to $240 million 
in April. It will increase again to $280 million this Saturday and will 
continue to climb upward to $680 million next year if we fail to act.
  Senator Kerry was a cosponsor of this bill and supported it in the 
Finance Committee. I urge him to join us in a bipartisan effort to end 
his fellow Democrats' filibuster and agree to a time to pass and send 
to President Bush a jobs bill, a jobs bill that will benefit 
manufacturing workers throughout the United States.
  We must pass this JOBS bill to protect America's manufacturing base 
and the manufacturing jobs of thousands of our workers across the 
United States. America's workers are depending on us.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a letter from me to 
Senator Kerry dated April 28, 2004, be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                                      U.S. Senate,


                                Office of the Majority Leader,

                                   Washington, DC, April 28, 2004.
     Hon. John Kerry,
     Russell Office Building,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Kerry: This week you are campaigning in the 
     Midwest to discuss ways to help create jobs for the American 
     people.
       While I applaud your enthusiasm, I want to make certain you 
     are aware that we have scheduled a third floor debate on the 
     JOBS bill, S. 1637, to start next week. As you know, this 
     important legislation seeks to protect more than a million 
     high-quality manufacturing jobs in the United States.
       Unfortunately, your Democrat colleagues in the Senate are 
     waging a filibuster against the Jumpstart Our Business 
     Strength bill (JOBS), having twice voted to prevent us from 
     completing action on this essential legislation.
       It is my hope that you will use your position to help 
     convince your Senate Democrat colleagues of the importance of 
     this legislation and help us to move it quickly toward 
     passage. After all, according to the National Foreign Trade 
     Council, there are currently 147,200 jobs in Ohio that hinge 
     on passage of the JOBS bill. In Michigan, some 150,100 jobs 
     will be impacted by this ill-advised filibuster. In 
     Pennsylvania, nearly 142,000 jobs are tied to this 
     legislation. It is my hope that you will join with us in a 
     bipartisan effort to end the Democrat filibuster and press 
     for timely action on the JOBS measure.
       Since you were once a co-sponsor of this bill and supported 
     it in the Finance Committee, I know you appreciate how 
     important it is that we approve this measure and repeal the 
     European tariffs on at least 100 US-made products. This Euro-
     tax started at $200 million in March, increased to $240 
     million in April, will increase to $280 million this 
     Saturday, and will continue to climb upward to $680 million 
     by next year if we fail to act.
       We look forward to your support in passing a measure that 
     is absolutely essential if we are to protect America's 
     manufacturing base and the manufacturing jobs of thousands of 
     our workers across the United States.
           Sincerely yours,

                                         William H. Frist, MD,

                                                  Majority Leader,
                                             United States Senate.

  Mr. FRIST. I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The minority leader.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I have 5 
additional minutes of leader time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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