[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 191 (Tuesday, December 13, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H8734]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 REMOVE KEYSTONE PIPELINE FROM THE BILL

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Rangel) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. RANGEL. Well, it looks like this august body will continue to 
work until we find some solutions to the problems facing the millions 
of Americans who have lost their jobs, their homes, their savings 
through no fault of their own and have limited income.
  It has taken some time for the Democrats in the House to persuade the 
majority that this is a time when we just can't lay off people and stop 
spending, even though that has to be a part of the ultimate solution to 
the problems that we face. But laying off people, especially at this 
time of the year, is not only an insensitive thing to do, but, in my 
opinion, the economics of it all is that if people don't have the 
resources to purchase their needs, then, of course, our small 
businesses are the ones that suffer financially; and, as a result of 
that, they may have to lay off workers. It just doesn't make economic 
sense, nor is it a very sensitive thing to do during this time of year.
  Now very soon, this body will be considering what is referred to as 
the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2011, which means 
that we will now have united--or apparently it appears to be united--
this entire Congress, saying that we must continue to have this low-
income tax cut that working people enjoy to continue beyond its 
expiration of December 31, and that even though there are some people 
who claim that a lot of Americans don't pay any taxes--well, you can't 
explain that to a person who works hard each and every day and they 
find out what their pay was supposed to be, but, when they get home and 
look at their check, it's less. But just because it's not Federal 
income tax, that doesn't mean that they're not paying into their Social 
Security and they're not paying for their health benefits. So the 
President, in his wisdom, and this Congress support that we extend 
relief of that payroll tax so that these people have this disposable 
income during this time of the year.
  And of course we have this controversy where every year, for whatever 
reason, Republicans can't grasp the understanding of what unemployment 
insurance is all about. And I shouldn't say Republicans. I'm talking 
about those people that belong to the Republican Party that truly 
believe, if you give someone a hand up at a time when they've lost 
their job and the Federal Government said that you have paid into this 
safety fund and you try to help them for what they paid into, that you 
are convincing them that they should not look for work.
  Now, this great country exists because of our working middle class. 
It's because people don't enjoy work, but they have the dignity of 
working, the pride in letting their family know that they're providing 
for food and clothing and investing for the future. So perhaps I 
shouldn't blame the entire Republican Party. But they have managed 
every year not to deal with this extended unemployment compensation so 
at least these people can plan not just for the holidays but plan for 
their basic needs.
  Somehow, with all of this feeling that it is about time that we came 
together and have done something, the Republicans have added to this 
the Keystone energy pipeline. Can you imagine how many people who are 
expecting relief from their government will be going to sleep tonight 
wondering whether they are going to continue to get a break on taxes 
next year, whether or not they are going to get a break on payroll 
taxes this year, and whether or not they are going to get extended 
unemployment compensation is all dependent on whether or not the 
Congress supports the Keystone energy pipeline?
  Let's get rid of all the pipeline language. Let's do what the bill is 
supposed to do, and let's not put in something that could impede the 
passage.

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