Economy
Washington, DC – The U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement enters into force today, marking the completion of the three U.S. trade agreements enacted in 2011. Trade promotion agreements with Colombia and South Korea took effect earlier in 2012. Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) issued the following statement:
“The three trade agreements with Panama, Colombia and South Korea are now in effect, bringing mutual economic benefits and expanding export opportunities for Nebraska goods, crops and products.
The national economy is bleak. Four years after a deep recession, unemployment remains stubbornly high at 7.8 percent, and economic growth has slowed to 1.3 percent. Families and small businesses are struggling to make ends meet. As wages and benefits have been cut, prices of electricity, gas, food, and health care continue to rise. Clearly, we are not headed in the right direction.
Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) accepted the National Association of Manufacturers Award for Manufacturing Legislative Excellence today at the Nebraska Business and Industrial Products Show in Grand Island.
“I am honored to receive this award,” said Smith. “Nebraska is an agriculture state and a manufacturing state. The Third District alone is home to more than 300 manufacturing facilities employing nearly 27,000 people. In this economy it is essential we remove red tape on our manufacturers, and work to make sure our exports are competitive abroad.”
Washington, DC – Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) issued the following statement on the U.S. Department of Labor’s August jobs report:
“The August jobs report is the latest indication the President’s policies of massive spending and debt are failing to create private sector economic growth. In the last month, nearly four times as many people simply gave up looking for work than jobs were created. We can and must do better by adopting policies to cut spending and regulation to get the government out of the way of economic growth.”
America’s relationship with Russia is complex. Russia is currently the world’s ninth largest economy and growing. In 2011 alone, Nebraska exported $154 million worth of goods to Russia, which directly supported an estimated 560 jobs here at home. However, I and many others remain concerned regarding Russia’s recent behavior and trading policies.
Washington, DC – Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) issued the following statement after voting in favor of H.R. 4078, the Red Tape Reduction and Small Business Job Creation Act. The bill passed in the House of Representatives by a vote of 245 to 172:
America’s economy is stagnant and showing few signs of growth. The private sector is being strangled by government regulation, an overly-complex and uncompetitive tax code, and uncertainty generated by the threat of tax increases, an onerous health care law, and the ever expanding national debt.
As our economy struggles, the lack of bipartisan solutions from Congress only adds to our frustration. While House Republicans are working to reduce the burden of government, cut wasteful spending, and streamline government programs to encourage economic growth, not hinder it, more than thirty House-passed bills aimed at private sector job creation and growth have idled in the Democrat-led Senate. There have been, however, a few areas where both parties have found common ground and work together to pass meaningful legislation which benefits our economy.
The U.S. economy added just 80,000 jobs in June and the national unemployment rate remained above 8 percent for the 41st consecutive month. With millions of Americans out of work or underemployed, it is the latest indication the President’s policies of massive deficit spending, increased federal regulation and calling for added taxes on America’s small businesses are failing to create economic growth.
Washington, D.C.– The United States Chamber of Commerce has presented Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) with its “Spirit of Enterprise” award for his support of policies which encourage job creation and economic growth. Smith has received this prestigious award for five consecutive years.