[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 192 (Wednesday, December 14, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H8914]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    OPPOSING H.R. 3630, MIDDLE CLASS TAX RELIEF AND JOB CREATION ACT

  (Ms. SCHAKOWSKY asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Why did I vote against H.R. 3630 yesterday? I could 
list many reasons, but I only have 1 minute so here are three.
  One, the bill extends unemployment insurance for some jobless 
Americans and then drastically cuts months off of benefits for others, 
and it makes all who are unemployed jump through demeaning hoops in 
order to get any benefits.
  Two, in order to reluctantly give the middle class a payroll tax 
break, it asks seniors and people with disabilities to pay more for 
Medicare, but it refuses to ask millionaires and billionaires to pay 
one more cent.
  Three, the bill threatens public health by preventing the 
Environmental Protection Agency from regulating dangerous mercury and 
other emissions, and then it goes a step further by threatening the 
public health by cutting the Prevention and Public Health Fund.
  H.R. 3630 is a political statement, not a serious proposal. What a 
statement to make--more support for dirty air and water, increased 
health care costs for middle-income people, and less help for those 
struggling to find jobs.

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