[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 31 (Friday, March 5, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E317]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 
                                  2010

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 4, 2010

  Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition of H.R. 
2847, ``Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment. Though this bill aims 
to create and save many jobs this year, it does not go nearly far 
enough to get jobs to those communities that are suffering the most. We 
need to get jobs in the hands of the most vulnerable Americans.
  Last Thursday, the House passed emergency legislation that would 
extend a range of programs that unfortunately expired last weekend. 
These programs included: unemployment benefits; help with health 
insurance for the unemployed (COBRA); the highway bill; satellite TV; 
delay in the cut in Medicare physician payments; flood insurance; and 
small business loan guarantees. We passed this emergency legislation in 
the House, but Republican Senator Jim Bunning is single-handedly 
blocking passage of this emergency measure, despite the critical needs 
of millions of families across the United States during this economic 
downturn.
  H.R. 2847 proposes to provide:
  $77.155 billion of investments in surface transportation projects 
that will create and save good-paying jobs in our communities;
  More than $39 billion in transportation and infrastructure which is 
projected to create 1,158,204 jobs;
  Incentives for hiring and retaining new employees, and extension of 
these benefits to businesses in U.S. territories and possessions; and
  A direct payment option for certain tax credit bond programs enabling 
State and local governments to increase school construction, complete 
clean and renewable energy projects, and create green jobs.
  Madam Speaker, although this bill proposes to spend billions of 
dollars for job creation, there is nothing that would create jobs for 
those who are chronically unemployed and those such as ex-felons, who 
want to work but are not being afforded the chance. Advocates say there 
are good reasons for employers and communities to help former felons 
re-enter the work force. With an estimated 650,000 people released from 
prison each year nationwide, helping them get jobs can reduce the 
chances that they will be jailed again or need welfare.

  U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald tells businesses in Chicago that 
hiring ex-felons is one of the best ways to reduce violent crime 
because it erases the reason behind many offenses. It can also provide 
an economic boost to some of the nation's poorest neighborhoods.
  Though there is funding in this bill to improve infrastructures in 
this country, there is nothing in this bill that will provide for the 
rehabilitation of housing projects in the most vulnerable communities. 
It is not only a good idea to rebuild certain parts of this country, 
but it is also necessary to rebuild the areas that have been neglected 
for so long. Unfortunately, we are missing the perfect opportunity to 
create jobs in communities of those who need them most.
  We need to put jobs in the hands of Americans. Unemployment in the 
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown region climbed to 5.4 percent in October, 
according to a recent report from the Texas Workforce Commission. There 
were 152,300 people without jobs during the month out of a total 
civilian labor force of about 2.8 million, compared with 144,200 
people, or 5.1 percent, unemployed out of a civilian labor force of 2.8 
million in September, according to the TWC. The unemployment rate in 
October was up from 4 percent a year ago.
  Madam Speaker, getting all Americans back to work is, and should be, 
our number one priority. I am happy to know that this bill will provide 
employers with incentives to hire and retain new employees. I am also 
pleased to know that in order to encourage employers to hire new 
employees, the bill would exempt employers from paying the employer 
share of Social Security employment taxes (6.2 percent of the first 
$106,800 of wages) for wages paid in 2010 for any new employee hired 
after February 3, 2010, and before January 1, 2011, if the new employee 
(1) was previously unemployed and (2) does not replace another employee 
of the employer.
  Madam Speaker, I believe we could have made this bill much better and 
more effective in attacking the joblessness among the most vulnerable 
communities, if it had included targeted funding to areas that create 
jobs for the chronically unemployed and those ex-felons who want to 
work and are trying to get back on the right path. Without such 
funding, I cannot support this bill.

                          ____________________