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Press Office - Floor Statements
DOLE URGES COLLEAGUES TO ALLOW A FINAL VOTE ON JOB-CREATING LEGISLATION
Floor statement on the JOBS Bill
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April 28th, 2004 - Mr. President, when I came to the United States Senate last year, it was with great optimism—with a mission to get real results accomplished for my North Carolina constituents and for our great nation. During my tenure in the Department of Transportation, the Department of Labor, and the American Red Cross, I was blessed with the opportunity to tackle some very important and challenging issues – like the sale of Conrail, modernizing the American Red Cross, settling a bitter coal strike, transferring Dulles and National airports from federal control to ensure that Dulles’ capacity would be doubled and the gateway to the nation’s capital would be our beautiful new airport. These issues required me to work with colleagues from both sides of the aisle at every turn. If I had just tried to work with Republicans when tackling these matters, you can bet that nothing would have ever been accomplished. These success stories were achieved in a bipartisan and constructive manner. I looked forward to the same experience when entering this great body last year; however, the pattern of obstructionism occurring over the past few months is at a crossroads.
The opportunity to vote...to even vote, on the following legislation has been blocked:
Medical Liability Reform—after a comprehensive bipartisan bill was blocked last July, two additional targeted attempts to protect access to ERs and OB-GYNs were blocked February 24th and April 7th.
A comprehensive Energy Bill has been thwarted for 3 years…3years! Passage would not only create an estimated 1 million American jobs but also reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Energy tax relief that would have created an estimated 650,000 jobs was also blocked on April 7th.
Workforce Investment Act—This Legislation, projected to help more than 940,000 dislocated workers obtain the training they need to get good jobs) was passed by both the House and Senate but now my friends across the aisle refuse to even appoint conferees!
Now there are other examples of blocked legislation - Class Action Reform, Faith Based/Charities, Welfare Reform, and The Fair Act - but I want to highlight the legislation that could directly benefit the economy. And I use the word “could” because unfortunately none of this legislation can even get the courtesy of an up or down vote!
You cannot have it both ways. You cannot come down to the Senate floor and deride the Administration’s economic policies—then, in the same day, vote to block job-creating legislation.
A piece of legislation that underscores this point is S. 1637, the JOBS Bill. Why in the world would we not be passing this legislation? I really want to know the answer so I can tell my constituents, in a state that has been hit especially hard by manufacturing job losses. Why is there objection to removing tariffs from our companies? Why is there objection to cutting taxes on manufacturing companies when they need it most? I must be missing something. When a bill is passed out of the Finance Committee 19-2, yes 19-2, and it’s blocked from coming to a vote on two separate, that’s occasions simply outrageous!
Those of us on both sides of the aisle recognize the need to deal with the increasing concerns associated with the current extraterritorial tax regime (ETI). The World Trade Organizations has determined that if not repealed, the current rules for exportation would necessitate $4 billion in tariffs. If passed, the JOBS bill will not only eliminate the WTO’s exorbitant tariff imposition; it will also replace ETI’s tax relief with a tax deduction for domestic manufacturers.
At a time when America’s manufacturing industries need immediate relief, the benefits of this legislation are clear – and the necessity of its passage is obvious. However, Senate Democrats are continuing to play petty political games and in so doing, are preventing direct aid to our hurting manufacturers. These partisan antics harm our American businesses directly - businesses run by men and women who deserve better from their elected officials.
I’m particularly focused on this issue because North Carolina has areas that are severely affected by the loss of manufacturing jobs, mainly in textiles and furniture. This past summer, North Carolina experienced the largest layoff in state history when textile giant Pillowtex closed its doors forever. The result of Pillowtex’s closing was 4,400 people losing their jobs in a single day – and eventually nearly 5,000 being laid off.
In Eastern North Carolina, layoffs and plant closures have resulted in more than 2,200 layoffs since last summer. In just the past few months, the Western region of North Carolina has lost more than 1,500 jobs. And in February, 22 of North Carolina’s 100 counties had double-digit unemployment rates! Now there are signs that the situation is improving—initial data for March unemployment in North Carolina shows that just four counties have double-digit rates—but we must take action to help our manufacturers and to ensure upward trends will continue.
Action can begin with final passage of the JOBS Bill. Mr. President, this is not the time for political games. This is a time for doing what is right for the American people – and providing our manufacturers with legislation that will directly benefit their businesses. I urge my colleagues to allow a final vote on the passage of Senate Bill 1637 –to protect our companies from undue tariffs and excessive taxes. Democrats say they want to find a way to rejuvenate our economy and prevent more factories from shutting down. If they are truly searching for such answers, then why don’t they step forward and allow for the solution to reach final passage? I’m hoping my friends on the other side of the aisle will remember the American people, who depend on us to put aside partisan antics and pass legislation. We need to put an end to this obstruction and work together to get things done on the floor of the U.S. Senate.
Thank you.
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| Elizabeth Dole |
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