[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 186 (Friday, December 11, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2965-E2966]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




PERMANENT ESTATE TAX RELIEF FOR FAMILIES, FARMERS, AND SMALL BUSINESSES 
                              ACT OF 2009

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. XAVIER BECERRA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 3, 2009

  Mr. BECERRA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 4154, a bill 
that would cut taxes for millionaires at a time when Americans are 
struggling to hold on to their paychecks, their homes, and their 
dignity.
  Today, one in ten Americans is out of work, one in eight Americans is 
receiving food assistance, and one in six of our children is living in 
poverty. With such need in this nation, Congress's primary mission must 
be to create jobs and strengthen economic security for the American 
people. When Congress convened in January, the economy was losing 
20,000 jobs each day, and we took decisive action to avert the freefall 
of the economy and to set it on the path to recovery. The American 
Recovery and Reinvestment Act made critical investments in our 
communities, infrastructure, education, and clean energy, and has so 
far created or saved as many as 1.6 million jobs.
  As a result of this decisive action by Congress, the most recent 
Department of Labor jobs report showed that this country lost 587,000 
fewer jobs in November 2009 than January 2009. While a significant 
improvement over the numbers at the beginning of this year, it is clear 
that this recession is still exacting a devastating toll. Congress must 
keep its focus on creating jobs. Legislation is urgently needed to 
provide assistance to prepare workers to fill occupations like nursing 
which have a shortage of skilled workers, to invest in new job-creating 
technologies, and to encourage the next generation of entrepreneurs to 
produce the new ventures and products that will ensure that the 
American economy returns to its preeminent position in the world.

[[Page E2966]]

  This legislation does not help the millions of Americans in need nor 
does it set the right priorities for this country. In such dire 
economic times with the largest budget deficit in this nation's 
history, this Congress does not have the luxury of bestowing this tax 
cut of a quarter-trillion dollars on millionaires.
  I urge my colleagues to vote against this bill that helps only 
millionaires, and to turn their focus towards the problems of those 
Americans who are in economic crisis or could shortly be confronted 
with painful financial decisions if this economy does not start 
improving its employment outlook.

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