[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 17 (Thursday, February 2, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H385]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       PAYROLL TAX CUT EXTENSION

  (Ms. TSONGAS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Ms. TSONGAS. Mr. Speaker, we are now in the month of February. In 
less than 4 weeks, the 2-week payroll tax cut extension, which House 
Republicans begrudgingly agreed to, will expire.
  To avoid the same dramatic standoff that threatened a $1,400 tax 
increase for the average Massachusetts family, we must work together 
and adopt a yearlong extension of this vital tax credit rather than 
waiting till the last minute yet again.
  Failure to extend the payroll tax cut to the end of the year would 
not only severely impact already overstretched households around the 
country, but would also dramatically undermine our still fragile 
economic recovery.
  Families have already made their budgets for this year. They are 
counting on this extension to pay their bills, heat their homes, and 
meet other needs. Let's not let them down.

                          ____________________