Jobs
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.”
The successful 1996 welfare reform law passed by a Republican Congress and signed by President Bill Clinton is a model of bipartisan cooperation and a rare example of divided government achieving a major accomplishment. The law created the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant program, providing states funds for welfare checks, but also contains strong work requirements to help recipients find and keep jobs rather than become dependent on government aid.
Washington, DC – Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) issued the following statement today after a markup of H.J.Res. 118 by the House Committee on Ways and Means:
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.”
Washington, DC – Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) issued the following statement after voting in favor of H.R. 8, which would prevent the largest tax hike in American history when the current rates expire at the end of the year. Tomorrow, the House is expected to pass H.R. 6169, which would provide an expedited process for comprehensive tax reform in 2013. Congressman Smith, a member of the Committee on Ways and Means charged with rewriting the tax code, is an original co-sponsor of both bills.
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.
Later this month, the Supreme Court is expected to rule on the constitutionality of President Obama’s health care law, formally known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Make no mistake, this will be a landmark decision with profound implications for the future of our country. But the significance of this decision goes beyond the dubious constitutional standing of the law’s individual mandate.
While Nebraska continues to see a strong job market, the national economy remains weak with unemployment above 8 percent for 39 consecutive months. The tepid pace of growth is due in large part to the overregulation coming out of Washington, paralyzing employers with uncertainty. And just as a rising tide lifts all boats, the opposite is also true. Failure to rein in out-of-control regulations will result in lasting damage to our country, and all Americans will pay the price.