[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 172 (Tuesday, December 21, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2232-E2233]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 TAX RELIEF, UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE REAUTHORIZATION, AND JOB CREATION 
                              ACT OF 2010

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 16, 2010

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4853) to 
     amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the funding 
     and expenditure authority of the Airport and Airway Trust 
     Fund, to amend title 49, United States Code, to extend 
     authorizations for the airport improvement program, and for 
     other purposes:

  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Chair, it is with a great deal of regret that 
I will vote against H.R. 4853, the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance 
Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act.
  Reaching this decision has not been easy because President Obama 
fought for and succeeded in getting several provisions into this bill 
which I wholeheartedly support.
  Among those provisions is the extension of unemployment insurance for 
millions of American families who through no fault of their own have 
lost their jobs, the child tax credit, the middle class tax cuts, the 
earned income tax credit and tax breaks for small business. These were 
major victories for President Obama.
  My concern is that the provisions in the bill demanded by Republicans 
come at too high a price and impact the future well being of our 
country and our children. Based on the calls I have received, the 
majority of my constituents agree.
  According to economists the demands by Republicans to give the 6,600 
wealthiest Americans a tax break of $23 billion will do nothing to 
stimulate our economy or create one job.
  What this one provision alone will do, however, is increase our out 
of control deficit by another 8 percent. This is irresponsible and will 
make it even more difficult for our country to stop mortgaging our 
future to China; a mortgage which will ultimately fall on the backs of 
our children and our grandchildren in the years to come.
  I also have a deep concern about this bill's impact on Social 
Security. My fear has to do with the 2 percent reduction in employee 
contributions to Social Security which has the potential to destroy the 
guaranteed safety net which keeps millions of older and disabled 
Americans out of poverty.
  While this provision is intended to be temporary, I have learned in 
my 18 years in Washington that tax cuts are seldom temporary. It is 
always easier to cut taxes than it is to restore them as this very bill 
demonstrates.
  The Social Security payroll tax provides an independent revenue 
stream which keeps Social Security from contributing to our nation's 
budget deficit and outside of the budget process.
  If the payroll tax is not restored, which I believe is likely with a 
Republican majority in the House, Social Security would become 
dependent on the general fund for revenue.
  This would threaten the safety net for seniors and the disabled by 
making it vulnerable to budget cuts and competition with other 
essential programs like veterans benefits and safety net programs for 
children.
  By doing this, we could be sowing the seeds for the privatization of 
Social Security.
  Therefore, while this bill does provide short term relief, the 
potential long term suffering and negative impact of this bill are too 
high a price to pay.
  I cannot in good conscience support this bill with the potential long 
term negative impact on Social Security and the unnecessary increased 
burden the tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans will put on the 
shoulders of our children and grandchildren.
  I am saddened that my Republican colleagues demanded these 
irresponsible tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans in exchange for the 
very critical provisions of this bill supported by the President. While 
I am heartened that we are acting to extend unemployment insurance and 
protect those still struggling to find work, there is too much in this 
bill that only adds to our already uncontrollable deficit and does 
nothing to help our economy or create jobs.

[[Page E2233]]



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