Weekly Newsletters
Aug 10 2012
The Hill Report: Week of July 30 – August 3
This week in Washington, the focus of the House remained on job creation and getting our economy back on track. Families and small businesses in North Texas, across the state and the country are struggling to make ends meet in the current economic climate, and I am committed to supporting policies that will get Americans working again.
July Jobs Report
Today the Department of Labor released the latest unemployment numbers, which reported that our unemployment rate rose to 8.3% last month – marking 42 consecutive months with an unemployment rate at or above 8%. Clearly, the Administration’s policies aren’t providing the relief Americans need and it is past time to implement pro-growth policies that will encourage job creators, not burden them with more government red-tape and higher taxes. House Republicans have passed over 30 bills to empower the free enterprise system and increase competitiveness – all which are outlined in our Plan for America’s Job Creators.
Job Protection and Recession Prevention Act
On Wednesday, the House approved H.R. 8, the Job Protection and Recession Prevention Act of 2012, to block the tax increases set to go into effect at the end of the year by extending the current income tax rates for all Americans for one year. I strongly believe that raising taxes on American families and small businesses during this time of continued high unemployment will only further drag down our economy. Ernst & Young recently released a study which said that raising taxes on any Americans right now would eliminate over 700,000 jobs.
Last week’s report that our nation’s GDP grew at a sluggish rate of 1.5 percent last quarter and today’s weak jobs report underscore the need to stop the tax hike which drives uncertainty, discourages investment and impedes job creation. I urge the Senate and Administration to join us in stopping a tax hike at a time when our nation can least afford it.
Pathway to Job Creation through a Simpler, Fairer Tax Code
Not only did the House take action this week to prevent devastating tax hikes, but on Thursday the House approved H.R. 6169, a bill that lays the groundwork for comprehensive tax reform in 2013.
Fundamental reforms are far overdue, and I am pleased that the House has moved forward on efforts to lower the tax burden on working families and small businesses by fixing our nation’s complicated and bloated tax code. To learn more about this fast-tracked process to enact tax reform, including House and Senate procedures, visit the House Rules Committee website at http://www.rules.house.gov/News/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=933.
Big Brothers Big Sisters
On Thursday, I was delighted to meet with representatives from Big Brothers Big Sisters, including Olivia Eudaly who serves as the State Executive Director of Amachi Texas and is on the Big Brothers Big Sisters Executive Board. The Amachi program launched in March 2006 and is a collaboration of the 11 Big Brothers Big Sisters organizations in the state as well as the governor’s office, One Star Foundation and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Congressman Sessions with Olivia Eudaly in his Washington, DC office
As you may know, Big Brothers Big Sisters is a mentoring program that is dedicated to providing children facing adversity with strong relationships that will help them achieve success. To learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters – Texas, visit http://www.bbbstx.org.