[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 169 (Monday, November 7, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S7150]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                         WITHHOLDING TAX REPEAL

  Mr. BROWN of Massachusetts. Mr. President, I rise in support of H.R. 
674. The vote we have tonight is finally an opportunity to pass a truly 
bipartisan jobs bill, part of the President's jobs package. As I said 
when we held the first vote to try to repeal the 3-percent withholding 
tax a couple weeks ago, this vote is a no-brainer. It is pretty simple. 
Unfortunately, some Members objected to a small portion of that bill, 
the offset. That should not be a concern this time. The bill we will be 
voting on shortly just passed the House with 405 votes, and when is the 
last time we heard that? The bill we are going to vote on today has a 
new offset that has been endorsed by the President, so I say let's get 
it done.
  If we pass it, every company that does business with the government 
can go back to thinking about hiring new workers rather than worrying 
about losing 3 percent of the value of their contracts right upfront, 
right in the beginning. If we pass it, State and local governments will 
not be saddled with another costly and unfunded mandate. As I said 
before, it is a no-brainer. If we pass it, we will finally repeal a tax 
that costs the government billions more to implement than it actually 
raises in revenue.
  Let's pass this bill and let's end this stealth tax that is extremely 
expensive to implement and punishes many for the bad acts of a few.
  That being said, as we know, we have Veterans Day fast approaching. I 
thank all of our men and women who have served and continue to serve. I 
cannot think of anything more meaningful than to come together in a 
truly bipartisan, bicameral way to help our jobless veterans. 
Unemployment and homelessness among our Active-Duty veterans and 
members of the National Guard and Reserves are a national disgrace and 
we can do better. We should not leave anyone behind. The Active-Duty 
soldiers and members of the Guard and Reserves fight side by side for 
our freedom. They face danger together, they are wounded together, and 
they should be treated as equals when it comes to helping them find 
jobs.
  Back in January, I introduced the Hire-a-Hero Act with Senator Kay 
Hagan. It expands the work opportunity tax credit to help companies put 
our veterans and members of the Guard and Reserves back to work. The 
President has proposed a similar action in his jobs bill. It did not 
include guardsmen and reservists, and that is why I hope when we take 
up the veterans package that I hear is being discussed, the majority 
leader will actually allow for that to be included. Our guardsmen and 
reservists, once again, deserve better.
  It is time for our Senate colleagues to rally behind the men and 
women who have served and continue to serve. They are leaving the 
service and need this opportunity right now. The unemployment rate for 
veterans is more than 12 percent. For members of the Guard and 
Reserves, it is twice the national average, as high as 20 percent in 
some areas. We need to treat this as a truly bipartisan and hopefully 
bicameral effort. It is something the American people are yearning for. 
They are looking for us to show leadership, to actually work together. 
If we can't work together with our heroes who have served and given to 
our country at its time of need, then I am not quite sure what we will 
be able to work on together.
  If we do these two things, repeal the 3-percent withholding and help 
our veterans in 1 day, potentially 1 week, maybe it will usher in a new 
era of good will, something I know the Chair and I have worked to 
establish, as have so many other people in this historic Chamber. One 
good deed can lead to another good deed and that good deed can lead to 
another good deed, and so on.
  Let's start working together. The American people are demanding it. 
As I have said before, we are Americans first. I may be a Republican--
and I am proud to be Republican--but we are Americans first. I am way 
more proud to be an American. I hope others in this historic Chamber 
feel the same way and we can put our party differences aside and do 
something very important for not only our businesses in this country 
but also for the ones who have given so much in their service to our 
great Nation while serving in the military.
  I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Virginia.
  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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