[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 62 (Tuesday, April 29, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H3247-H3248]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NEED ACTION IN THE SENATE
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, just a short while ago,
one of my colleagues talked about the plight of folks who are
unemployed--individuals who are unemployed either short term or those
chronically unemployed. He actually failed to mention those who are
underemployed in this Nation. It is an issue that needs to be
addressed.
I am actually proud to be a part of solutions that have passed out of
the House of Representatives but sit in the Senate, waiting for Senator
Reid to take the leadership to bring those House-passed jobs bills to
the Senate floor for action--bills that would provide some immediate
opportunities for individuals who are unemployed.
More than anything else, what folks who are unemployed need is a
job--a good-paying job with family-sustaining wages.
Mr. Speaker, the House has passed bill after bill to help working
middle class Americans get the skills they need, the jobs they desire,
and adequate pay to provide for their families. In the Senate, yet
another day has passed when Leader Reid has chose to deny consideration
of these commonsense bills and chose to deny the relief that would come
for those who are unemployed.
The House has acted on more than one occasion to advance completion
of the longstanding Keystone XL pipeline. This decision has again been
delayed by the Obama administration.
[[Page H3248]]
The House recently passed the Save American Workers Act, which would
restore hourly wages cut by ObamaCare's 30-hour workweek rule. This
bill remains stalled in the Senate's legislative graveyard.
The House has passed bipartisan legislation that would renew the
Federal Government's commitment to actively and adequately manage our
Federal forests. Where we have well-managed Federal forests that are
managed in a healthy way, we have healthy rural economic communities
where we grow jobs. Today, that bill is gathering dust on the Senate
Leader's desk, awaiting action.
Mr. Speaker, we were elected to solve problems. It is about time we
got about the people's business. Hardworking Americans deserve as much.
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